VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (22) to VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (24)

VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (22)

2. Satan tempts after an Ordinance, because he thinks he shall now find us most secure. After we have been at the Solemn Worship of God we are apt to grow remiss, and leave off former Strictness: Like a Soldier, that after the Battle leaves off his Armour: Now Satan watcheth his time, he doth as David did the Amalekites; after they had taken the Spoil and were secure, they did eat and drink, and dance; now David fell upon them and did smite them, 1 Sam. 30.17. So when we grow remiss after an Ordinance, and perhaps too much indulge our selves in carnal Delights; now Satan falls upon us by a Temptation, and oft foils us. As after a full Meal, men are apt to grow drowsie: So after we have had a full meal at an Ordinance, we are apt to slumber and grow secure; and now Satan shoots his Arrow of Temptation and hits us between the joynts of our Armour.

Season 5. Satan tempts after some Discoveries of God's Love. Satan like a Pyrat, sets on a ship that is richly laden: So when a Soul hath been laden with spiritual Comforts; now the Devil will be shooting at him to rob him of all. The Devil envies to see a Soul feasted with spiritual Joy. Iosephs party-colour'd Coat made his Brethren envy him, and plot against him. After David had the good news of the Pardon of his sin, (which must needs fill him with Consolation) Satan presently tempted him to a new sin in numbring the people; and so all his Comfort leak'd out and was spilt.

Season 6. [gap]atan tempts when he sees us weakest. He breaks over the Hedge where it is lowest. As the Sons of Iacob came upon the Shechemites when they were sore, and could make no Resistance, Gen. 34.25. At two times Satan comes upon us in our weakness.

1. When we are alone. So he came to Eve when her Husband was away, and the less able to resist his Temptation. Satan hath this Policy, he gives his Poison privately, when no body is by; others might discover his Treachery. Satan is like a cunning Suitor, that wooes the Daughter when the Parents are from home. So when one is alone, and none near; now the Devil comes a wooing with a Temptation, and hopes to have the Match struck up.

2. When the hour of Death approaches. As the poor sheep when it is sick and weak and can hardly help it self, now the Crows lie pecking at it. So when a Saint is weak on his Death-bed; now the Devil lies pecking at him with a Temptation, he reserves his most furious Assaults till the last. The people of Israel were never so fiercely assaulted, as when they were going to take Possession of the promised Land; then all the Kings of Canaan combin'd their Forces against them: So when the Saints are leaving the World, and going to set their foot into the Heavenly Canaan; now Satan sets upon them by Temptation, he tells them they are Hypocrites, all their Evidences are Counterfeit. Thus like a Coward he strikes the Saints when they are down. When Death is striking at the Body, he is striking at the Soul▪ This is his second Subtilty, Satan chooseth the fittest season when to throw in a Temptation.

Subtilty 3. A third subtil Policy of Satan in tempting is, He baits his Hook with Religion, the Devil can hang out Christ's Colours, and tempt to sin under pretences of Piety. Now he is the White Devil, and transforms himself into an Angel of Light. Celsus wrote a Book full of Errour, and he Intitled it; Liber Veritatis, The Book of Truth. So Satan can write the Title of Religion upon his worst Temptations. He comes to Christ with Scripture in his Mouth, It is written, &c. So he comes to many and tempts them to sin under the pretence of Religion; he tempts to Evil that Good may come of it. He tempts men to such unwarrantable Actions, that they may be put into a Capacity of honouring God the more. He tempts them to accept of Preferment against Conscience, that hereby they may be in a condition of doing more good; He put Herod upon killing Iohn Baptist, that hereby he might be kept from the Violation of his Oath. He tempts many to Oppression and Extortion, telling them they are bound to provide for their Families. He tempts many to make away with themselves, that they may live no longer to sin against God; thus he wraps his poisonous Pills in sugar. Who would suspect him when he comes as a Divine, and quotes Scripture?

4. Subtilty of Satan is to tempt to sin Gradually. The old Serpent winds himself in by degrees. He tempts first to lesser sins, that so he may bring on greater. A small Offence may occasion a great Crime; as a little prick of an Artery may occasion a mortal Gangrene. Satan first tempted David to an impure glance of the Eye, to look on Bathsheba, and that unclean look occasion'd Adultery and Murder. First the Devil tempts to go into the Company of the wicked, then to twist into a Cord of Friendship, and so by degrees to be brought into the same Condemnation with them; This is a great Subtilty of Satan to tempt to lesser sins first; for these harden the Heart, and fit men for the committing of more horrid tremendous. Sins.

5. Subtilty. Satans Policy is to hand over Temptations to us by those whom we least suspect.

1. By near Friends; he tempts us by them who are near in Blood. He tempted Iob by a Proxy, he handed over a Temptation to him by his Wife, Iob 2.9. Dost thou still retain thy Integrity? As if he had said, Iob thou seest how for all thy Religion God deals with thee. His hand is gone out sore against thee, what and still pray, and weep? Cast off all religion, turn Atheist? Curse God and die. Thus Satan made use of Iob's Wife to do his work: the woman was made of the Rib, and Satan made a Bow of this Rib, out of which he shot the Arrow of his Tentation. Per costam petit Cor, the Devil oft stands behind the Curtain, he will not be seen in the Business; but puts others to do his work. As a man makes use of a Sergeant to arrest another: so Satan makes use of a Proxy to tempt; as he did creep into the Serpent, so he can creep into a near Relation.

2. He tempts sometimes by religious Friends. The Devil keeps still out of sight, that his Cloven Foot may not be seen. Who would have thought to have found the Devil in Peter? When he disswaded Christ from suffering. Master, spare thy self. Christ spied Satan in the Temptation. Get thee behind me, Satan. When our religious Friends would disswade us from doing our Duty,

Satan is a lying spirit in their Mouths; and would by them entice us to Evil.

6. Subtilty, Satan tempts some Persons more than others: some are like wet Tinder, who will not so soon take the fire of Temptation as others. Satan tempts most where he thinks his Policy's will more easily prevail; some are fitter to receive the impression of Temptations: as soft Wax is fitter to take the stamp of the Seal. The Apostle speaks of Vessels filled for Destruction, Rom. 9.22. so there are Vessels fitted for Temptation. Some like the spunge suck in Satan's Temptations. There are five sorts of persons that Satan doth most sit brooding upon by his Temptations.

1. Ignorant Persons. The Devil can lead them into any snare; you may lead a blind man any whither. God made a Law that the Iews should not put a stumbling block in the way of the blind, Levit. 19.14. Satan knows it is easie to put a Temptation in the way of the blind▪ at which they shall stumble into Hell. When the Syrians were smitten with Blindness, the Prophet Elisha could lead them whither he would into the Enemies Country, 2 Kin. 6.20. The bird that is blind is soon shot by the Fowler. Satan the God of this World blinds men and then shoots them. An ignorant man cannot see the Devils snares; Satan tells him such a thing is no sin, or but a little one, and he will do well enough. 'Tis but repent.

2. Satan tempts Vnbelievers. He who with Diagoras doubts of a Deity, or with the Photinians denies Hell; what sin will not this man be drawn to. He is like mettal that Satan can cast into any Mould; he can dye him of any colour. An Unbeliever will stick at no sin, Luxury, Perjury, Injustice. Paul was afraid of none so much as them that did not believe, Rom. 15.31. That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea.

3. Satan tempts proud Persons; these he hath more power of: none is in greater danger of falling by a Temptation, than he who stands high in his own Conceit. When David's Heart was lifted up in pride, then the Devil stirr'd himself up to Number the people, 2 Sam. 24.2. Celsae graviore casu decidunt Turres, feriunt

que summos fulmina montes, Hor. Satan made use of Hamans pride to be his shame.

4. Melancholy Persons. Melancholy is atra bilis, a black Humour seated chiefly in the Brain. Melancholy clothes the Mind in Sable, it doth disturb Reason▪ Satan works much upon this Humour. There are three things in Melancholy which give the Devil great Advantage. 1. It unfits for Duty, it pulls off the Chariot-Wheels, it dispirits a man. Lute-strings when they are wet will not sound. When the spirit is sad and melancholy, a Christian is out of tune for spiritual Actions. 2. Melancholy sides often with Satan against God; the Devil tells such a person, God doth not love him, there is no Mercy for him; and the Melancholy Soul is apt to think so too, and sets his hand to the Devils Lies. 3. Melancholy breeds Discontent; and Discontent is a cause of many sins; Unthankfulness▪ Impatience, and oft it ends in self-murder. Judge then what an Advantage Satan hath against a melancholy Person, and how easily he may prevail with his Temptations. A melancholy person tempts the Devil to tempt him. 4. Idle Persons; He who is idle, the Devil will find him work to do. Ierom gives his Friend this Counsel to be ever well employ'd, that when the Tempter came he might find him working in the Vineyard. If the Hands be not working, the Head will be plotting sin, Micah 2.1.

7. Subtilty. Of Satan is to give some little Respite, and seem to leave off tempting a while that he may come on after with more Advantage. As Israel made as if they were beaten before the Men of Ai, and fled; but it was a Policy to draw them out of their fenced Cities, and ensnare them by an Ambush, Iosh. 8.15. The Devil sometimes raiseth the Siege, and feigns a flight that he may the better obtain the Victory. He goes away for a time, that he may return when he sees a better season, Luke 11.24. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a man, he walks in dry places, seeking rest and finding none, he saith, I will return to my House whence I came out. Satan by feigning a flight, and leaving off tempting a while, causeth Security in persons, and they think they are safe, and are become Victors, when on a sudden Satan falls on and wounds them. As one that is going to leap runs back a little, that he may take the greater Jump. Satan seems to retire and run back a little, that he may come on again with a Temptation more furiously and successfully. Therefore we need always to watch and have on our spiritual Armour.

8. Subtilty Of the old Serpent is either to take men off from the use of means, or to make them miscarry in the use of means.

First, He labours to take men off from Duty, from praying and hearing; his design is to Discourage them, and to do that he hath two Artifices.

1. He discourageth them from Duty, by suggesting to them their Vnworthiness, they are not worthy to approach to God, or have any signals of his Love and Favour. They are sinful, and God is Holy, how dare they presume to bring their impure Offering to God? This is a Temptation indeed; that we should see our selves unworthy is good, and argues Humility; but to think we should not approach to God because of unworthiness, is a conclusion of the Devils making. God saith, Come, tho' unworthy. By this Tentation the Devil takes off many from coming to the Lords Table. O (saith he) this is a solemn Ordinance, and requires much Holiness; how darest thou so unworthily come, lest thou eatest and drinkest unworthily? Thus as Saul kept the people from eating Hony, so the Devil by this Temptation scares many from this Ordinance, which is sweeter than hony and the hony-comb.

Secondly, Satan endeavours to discourage from Duty by objecting want of Success. When men have waited upon God in the use of Ordinances▪ and yet find not that Comfort they desire; now Satan disheartens them and, [gap] them upon resolves of declining all Religion; they begin to say as that wicked King, 2 Kings 6.33. Why should I wait on the Lord any longer? When Saul saw God answered him not by Dreams and Visions, Satan tempted him to leave God's Worship, and seek to the Witch of Endor, 1 Sam. 28.6. No answer of Prayer comes, therefore saith Satan leave off praying; who will sow seed, where no Crop comes up? Thus the Devil would by his subtil Logick dispute a poor Soul out of Duty. But if he sees he cannot prevail this way to take men off from the use of means, then he labours,

2. To make them miscarry in the use of means. By this Artifice he prevails over multitudes of Professors. The Devil stands as he did at Ioshua's right Hand, to resist men, Zach. 3.1. If he can't hinder them from Duty, he will be sure to hinder them in Duty two ways.

First, By causing Distraction in the Service of God, and this he doth by proposing Objects of Vanity, or by whispering in mens Ears that they can scarce mind what they are doing.

Secondly, Satan hinders by putting men upon doing Duties in a wrong manner. 1. In a dead formal manner, that so they may fail of the success. Satan knows duties done superficially were as good be left undone. That Prayer which doth not pierce the Heart will never pierce Heaven. 2. He puts them upon doing duties for wrong ends, Finis specificat actionem; He will make them look a-squint and have by-ends in Duty, Mat. 6.5. Be not as the Hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Prayer is good, but to pray to be seen of men, this was a dead fly in the Box of Oyntment; the Oyl of vain-glory fed their Lamp, sinister Aims corrupt and fly-blow our Holy Things. Here is Satans Policy, either to prevent Duty or pervert it; either to take men off from the use of means, or make them miscarry in the use of Means.

9. Subtilty, Satan can colour over sin with the name and pretence of Virtue. Alcibiades hung a Curtain curiously Embroidered over a foul Picture full of Satyrs: so Satan can put the Image of vertue over the foul Picture of sin. Satan can cheat men with false Wares, he can make them believe that Presumption is Faith, that intemperate Passion is Zeal; Revenge is Prudence, Covetousness is Frugality and Prodigality, good Hospitality. Come see my Zeal for the Lord, saith Iehu. Satan perswaded him it was a Fire from Heaven, when it was nothing but the Wild-fire of his own Ambition; 'Twas not Zeal, but State-Policy. This is a subtil Art of Satan to deceive by tempting, and put men off with the dead Child instead of the live Child, to make men believe that is a Grace which is a Sin; as if one should write Balm-water upon a Glass of Poyson. If Satan hath all these subtil Artifices in tempting, are not we in great Danger of this Prince of the Air, and had not we need often pray, Lord suffer us not to be led into Temptation? as the Serpent beguil'd Eve with his Subtilty, 2 Cor. 11.2. Let us not be beguil'd by the Snares and Policies of this hellish Machiavel.

Satan is [gap], he hath a Dexterity in subtil Contrivances. He doth more hurt as a Fox, than a Lion. His Snares are worse than his Darts, 2 Cor. 2.11. We are not ignorant of his Devices.

VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (23)

10. The next Subtilty of Satan is, He labours to ensnare us by Lawful Things. In licitis perimus omnes; more are hurt by lawful things than unlawful, as more are kill'd with Wine than Poison; Gross Sins affright, but how many take a surfeit and die in using lawful things inordinately? Recreation is lawful, Eating and Drinking is lawful, but many offend by Excess, and their Table is a Snare. Relations are lawful, but how oft doth Satan tempt to over-love? how oft is the Wife and Child laid in God's Room? Excess makes things lawful become sinful.

11. Subtilty of Satan is to make the Duties of our General and Particular Calling hinder and justle out one another. Our General Calling is serving God, our Particular Calling is minding our Employments in the World. 'Tis Wisdom to be regular in both these, when the Particular Calling doth not eat out the time for God's Service; nor the Service of God hinder Diligence in a Calling. The Devil's Art is to make Christians defective in one of these two. Some spend all their time in Hearing, Reading, and under a pretence of living by Faith, do not live in a Calling: others Satan takes off from Duties of Religion under a pretence that they must provide for their Families. He makes them so careful for their Bodies, that they quite neglect their Souls. This is the Subtilty of the old Serpent, to make men negligent in the Duties either of the first Table or the second.

12. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is, to misrepresent true Holiness, that he may make others out of love with it. He paints the Face of Religion full of Scars, and with seeming Blemishes, that he may create in the Minds of Men prejudice against it. Satan misrepresents Religion as the most Melanch[gap]ly Thing, and that he who embraceth it, must banish all Joy out of his Diocess. Tho' the Apostle saith, Ioy in Believeng, Rom. 15.13. Satan suggests that Religion exposeth men to Danger, he shews them the Cross, but hides the Crown from them. He labours to put all the Disgrace he can upon Holiness, that he may tempt men to the Renouncing of it. Satan abuseth the Good Christian and gives him a wrong Name. The truly Zealous Man Satan calls hot-headed and factious. The patient man that bears Injuries without Revenge, Satan represents him as a Coward. The humble man is low-spirited, the heavenly-man, Satan calls fool, he lets go things that are seen, for things that are not seen. Thus the Devil mis-represents Religion to the World. As Iohn Husse that Holy Man was painted with Red Devils: So Satan paints Holiness with as deform'd, mishapen a Face as he can, that he may by this Temptation draw men off from solid Piety; and make them rather scorn than embrace it. The hand of Ioab is in this. Satan is tempting persons to Atheism, to cast off all Religion.

13. Subtilty of Satan in tempting is, to draw men off from the Love of the Truth to embrace Errour, 2 Thes. 2.11. That they should believe a Lie. Satan is call'd in Scripture not only an Unclean Spirit, but a Lying Spirit. As an Vnclean Spirit, so he labours to defile the Soul with Lust, and as a Lying Spirit, so he labours to corrupt the Mind with Errour. And indeed this is dangerous, because many Errours do look so like the Truth, as Alchimy represents true Gold; Satan thus beguiles Souls. Tho' the Scripture blames Hereticks for being the Promoters of Errour; Yet it chargeth Satan with being the chief Contriver of it. They spread the Errour, but the Devil is a lying Spirit in their Mouths. This is Satan's great Temptation, he makes men believe such are glorious Truths which are dangerous Impostures, thus he transforms himself into an Angel of Light. What is the meaning of Satans sowing Tares in the Parable, Mat. 13.25. but Satan sowing Errour instead of Truth. How quickly had the Devil broach'd false Doctrine in the Apostles times. That it was necessary to be Circumcised, Acts 15.1. that Angel-Worship was lawful, and that Christ was not yet come in the Flesh, 1 Ioh. 4.3. Now the Devil tempts by drawing Men to Errour, because he knows how deadly this snare is; and the great Mischief Errour will do where it comes. 1. Errour is of a spreading Nature, it is compar'd to Leaven, because it sowres, Mat. 16.11. and to a Gangrene, because it spreads, 2 Tim. 2.17. 1. One Errour spreads into more, like a Circle in the water that multiplies into more Circles. One Errour seldom goes alone. 2. Errour spreads from one person to another, it is like the Plague which infects all round about. Satan by infecting one person with Errour, infects more. The Errour of Pelagius did spread on a sudden into Palestine, Africa, Italy; the Arrian Errour was at first but a single spark, but at last it set almost all the World on fire. 2. The Devil lays this snare of Errour, because Errour brings Divisions

into the Church, and Divisions bring an Opprobrium and Scandal upon the ways of God. The Devil danceth at Discord; Division destroys Peace, which was Christ's Legacy, and Love, which is the Bond of Perfection. Not only Christ's Coat hath been Rent, but his Body, by the divisions which Errour hath caused; in Churches or Families where Errour creeps in, what Animosities and Fractions doth it make? it sets the Father against the Son, and the Son against the Father. What Slaughters and Bloodshed have been occasion'd by Errors broach'd in the Church? 3. The Devils Policy in raising Errors is to hinder Reformation; the Devil was never a friend to Reformation. In the Primitive Times after the Apostles days, the Serpent cast out of his Mouth Water as a flood after the Woman, Rev. 12.15. which was a deluge of Heresies, that so he might hinder the Progress of the Gospel. 4. Satan tempts to Error, because Error devours Godliness. The Gnosticks, as Epiphanius observes, were not only corrupted in their Iudgments, but in their Morals; they were loose in their Lives, Iude 4. Ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into Lasciviousness. The Familists afterwards turn'd Ranters, and gave themselves over to Vices and Immoralities, and this they did boasting of the Spirit and Perfection. 5. The Devils design in seducing by Error is, he knows Error is pernicious to Souls; Error damns as well as Vice. Poison kills as well as Pistol, 2 Pet. 2.1. They shall privily bring in damnable Heresies. Now if Satan be thus subtil in laying snares of Error to deceive, had not we need pray that God would not suffer us to be led into Temptation; that he would make us wise to keep out of the snare of Error, or if we have fallen into it, that he would give us to recover out of the snare by Repentance?

14. Another Subtilty of Satan is, to bewitch and ensnare men by setting Pleasing Baits before them; the Riches, Pleasures, Honours of the World, Mat. 4.9. All this will I will give thee; how many doth Satan tempt with this Golden Apple? Pride, Idleness, Luxury are the three Worms which breed of Plenty, 1 Tim. 6.9. They that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare. Satan kills with these silver Darts; how many surfeit on Luscious Delights? The Pleasures of the World are the great Engine by which Satan batters down mens Souls. His Policy is to tickle them to death, to damn them with Delights. The Flesh would fain be pleased, and Satan prevails by this Temptation. He drowns them in the sweet Waters of Pleasure; such as have abundance of the World walk in the midst of Golden Snares. We had need watch our Hearts in Prosperity, and pray not to be led into Temptation. We have as much need to be careful that we are not endanger'd by Prosperity, as a man hath to be careful at a Feast, where there are some poison'd Dishes of Meat.

15. Subtilty of Satan in tempting is to plead Necessity. Satans Policy in tempting men under a Plea of Necessity is this, he knows that Necessity may in some Cases seem to palliate and excuse a sin. It may seem to make a lesser Evil good to avoid a Greater. As Lot offered to expose his Daughters to the Sodomites, and was willing that they should defile them, that he might preserve the Angel-strangers that were come into his House, Gen. 19.8. Doubtless Satan had an Hand in this Temptation, and made Lot believe that the necessity of this Action would excuse the sin. The Tradesman pleads a necessity of unlawful Gain, else he cannot live. Another pleads a Necessity of Revenge, else his Credit will be impaired; thus Satan tempts men to sin by telling them of the Necessity. Nay, the Devil will quote Scripture for it, that in some Cases extraordinary, there may be a Necessity of doing that which is not justifiable. Did not David in case of Necessity eat the Shew-bread, which was not lawful for him, but only the Priests? Mat. 12.4. nor do we read he was blam'd; then will Satan say, Why may not you in Cases Extraordinary trespass a little, and take the forbidden Fruit: O beware of this Temptation, see Satans Cloven Foot in it: Nothing can warrant a thing in its own nature sinful. Necessity will not justifie Impiety.

16. Subtilty of Satan in tempting is, to draw men to Presumption. Presumption is a Confidence without Ground: it is made up of two Ingredients, Audacity and Security; this Temptation is common. There is a two-fold Presumption▪ 1. Satan tempts men to presume of their own Hearts, that they are better than they are; they presume they have Grace when they have none. They will not take Gold on trust, but they will take Grace upon trust; the foolish Virgins presumed that they had Oyl in their Vessels when they had none. Here that Rule of Epicharmus is good, [gap], distrust a fallacious Heart. 2. Satan tempts men to presume of God's Mercy: tho' they are not so good as they should be, yet God is merciful. They look upon God's Mercy with the broad Spectacles of Presumption.

Satan sooths Men up in their sins; he Preacheth to them all Hope, no Fear; and so deludes them with these Golden Dreams: Quam multi cum vana spe descendunt ad inferos. Aug. Presumption is Satan's draw-net, by which he drags Millions to Hell. Satan, by this Temptation, oft draws the Godly to sin; they presume upon their Priviledges, or Graces, and so venture on occasions of sin. Iehoshaphat twisted into a League of Amity with K. Ahab, presuming, his Grace would be Antidote strong enough against the infection, 2 Chron. 18.3. Satan tempted Peter to presume upon his own strength, and when it came to a trial, he was foiled, and came off with shame. We had therefore need Pray, That we may not be led into this Temptation; and with David, Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins, Psal. 19.13.

17. Subtilty of Satan in tempting, is, to carry on his designs against us, under the highest pretences of Friendship. He thus puts Silver upon his bait, and dips his poison'd Pills in Sugar. Satan doth as some Courtiers, make the greatest pretences of Love where they have the most deadly hatred. Ioab's Sword was usher'd in with a Kiss; He kist Abner, and then smote him under the fifth rib. Satan puts off his Lions skin, and comes in sheeps clothing; he pretends kindness and friendship: He would consult what might be for our good. Thus Satan came to Christ, Command that these stones be made bread ▪ Mat. 4. As if he had said to Christ, I see thou art hungry, and here is no Table spread for thee in the Wilderness; I therefore pittying thy condition, wish thee to get something to eat; Turn stones to bread, that thy hunger may be satisfied: but Christ spied the Temptation, and with the Sword of the Spirit wounded the Old Serpent. Thus Satan came to Eve, and tempted her under the notion of a Friend; Eat, saith he, of the forbidden Fruit, for the Lord knows, that in the day ye eat thereof ye shall be as Gods. As if he had said, I perswade you onely to that which will put you into a better condition than now you are; eat of this Tree and it will make you Omniscient, ye shall be as Gods. What a kind Devil was here? but it was a subtil Temptation, she greedily swallowing the bait, it undid her and all her Posterity. Let us fear his fallacious flatteries. Timeo Danaos & Dona ferentes.

18. Subtilty, is, When Satan hath tempted Men to sin, he perswades them to keep his Counsel: Like them that have some foul Disease, they will rather die than tell the Physitian. It were wisdom in case of sore temptation, to open ones Mind to some experienc'd Christian, whose Counsel might be an Antidote against the Temptation. But the danger of a Temptation lies in the concealing of it; 'Tis like the concealing of Treason, which may prove Mortal. How had we need renew this Petition, Lead us not? &c.

19. Subtilty Of Satan in Tempting, is to make use of fit tools and engines, for the carrying on of his Work; That is, he makes use of such persons as may be likely means to promote his tempting designs. The Devil lays the plot of a Temptation, and as it were cuts out the Work, and then he imploys others to finish it.

1. Satan makes use of such as are in places of Dignity, Men of Renown. He knows if he can get these on his side, they may draw others into Snares: When the Princes and Heads of the Tribes joined with Corah, they presently drew a Multitude into the Conspiracy, Numb. 16.2.10.

2. The Devil makes use of such to carry on his Tempting Designs, as are Men of Wit and Parts; such, as if it were possible, should deceive the very Elect. He must have a great deal of cunning that shall perswade a Man to be out of love with his Food: The Devil can make use of such Heretical Spirits as shall perswade Men to be out of love with the Ordinances of God, which they profess they have found comfort in. Many who once seemed to be strict frequenters of the House of God, are now perswaded, by Satan's cunning Instruments, to leave off all▪ and follow an Ignis Fatuus, the Light within them. This is a great subtilty of the Devil to make use of such cunning subtil-pated Men, as may be fit to carry on his Tempting Designs.

3. Satan makes use of bad company to be instruments of tempting: They draw Youth to sin. First they perswade them to come into their Company, then to Twist into a Cord of Friendship; then to Drink with them; and, by degrees, debauch them: These are the Devils Decoys to tempt others.

20. Subtilty of Satan is, He, in his Temptation, strikes at some Grace more than other: As in tempting, he aims at some Persons more than others; so he aims at some Grace more than other; and if he can prevail in this, he knows

what an advantage it will be to him. If you ask what Grace it is that Satan in his Temptations doth most strike at? I Answer, it is the Grace of Faith: He lays the Train of his Temptation to blow up the Fort of our Faith, Fidei scutum percutit. Why did Christ pray more for Peter's Faith, than any other Grace? Luk. 22.32. Because Christ saw that his Faith was most in danger, the Devil was striking at this Grace. Satan in Tempting Eve, did labour to weaken her Faith, Gen. 3.1. Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every Tree of the Garden? The Devil would perswade her, that God had not spoken Truth; and when he had once wrought her to distrust, then she took of the Tree. 'Tis called Scutum fidei, the Shield of Faith, Ephes. 6.16. Satan in Tempting, strikes most at our Shield, he assaults our Faith. True Faith, though it cannot be wholly lost, yet it may suffer a great Eclipse. Though the Devil cannot, by Temptation, take away the Life of Faith, yet he may the lively acting: He cannot Gratiam diruere, but he may debilitare.

Quest. But why doth Satan, in Tempting, chiefly set upon our Faith? A. 1 King. 22.31. Fight neither with small nor great, save onely with the King. So Faith is as it were the King of the Graces; it is a Royal Princely Grace, and puts forth the most Majestick and noble Acts, therefore Satan fights chiefly with this Kingly Grace. I shall shew you the Devils Policy in assaulting Faith most.

VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (24)

First, Because this is the Grace doth Satan most Mischief: it makes the most resistance against him, 1 Pet. 5.9. Whom resist, stedfast in Faith. No Grace doth more bruise the Serpents Head than Faith. Faith is both a Shield and a Sword, defensive and offensive. 1. It is a Shield. A shield guards the Head, defends the Vitals; the shield of Faith causeth that the fiery darts of Temptation do not pierce us thorough. 2. Faith is a Sword, it wounds the Red Dragon.

Quest. How comes Faith to be so strong that it can resist Satan, and put him to flight?

Answ. 1. Because Faith brings the strength of Christ into the Soul: Sampson's strength lay in his Hair, ours lies in Christ: If a Child be assaulted, it runs and calls to its Father for help: So, when Faith is assaulted, it runs and calls Christ, and in his Strength overcomes.

2. Faith furnisheth it self with store of Promises; the Promises are Faith's Weapons to fight with. Now, as David, by Five Stones in his Sling, wounded Goliah, 2 Sam. 17.40. So Faith puts the Promises, as Stones, into its Sling, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, Heb. 13.5. He will not break the bruised reed, Matt. 12.20. He will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, 1 Cor. 10.13. The Lord will shortly bruise Satan under your feet, Rom. 16.20. None shall pluck you out of my Fathers hands, Joh. 10.29. Here are Five Promises, like five Stones put in the Sling of Faith, and with these a Believer wounds the Red Dragon. Now Faith being such a Grace, that doth so resist and wound Satan, he will watch his opportunity that he may batter our shield, though he cannot break it.

2. Satan strikes most at our Faith, and would weaken and destroy it, because Faith hath a great influence upon all the other Graces: Faith sets all the Graces a-work. Like some rich Clothier, that gives out a stock of Wool to the Poor, and sets them all a Spinning: So Faith gives out a stock to all the other Graces, and sets them a working. Faith sets Love a-work, [gap]· Gal. 5.6. Faith which worketh by love. When once the Soul believes God's Love, this kindles Love to God. The believing Martyrs burned hotter in Love, than in Fire. Faith sets Repentance a-work. When the Soul believes there is Mercy to be had, and that this mercy is for him, this sets the eyes a Weeping. O saith the Soul, that ever I should offend so gracious a God. Repenting tears drop from the eye of Faith, Mark 9.24. The Father of the Child cried out with tears, Lord I believe. Faith set his eyes abroach with Tears; therefore the Devil hath most spight at Faith, and by his Temptations would undermine it, because it is such an Operative Grace, it sets all the other Graces on work. If the Devil cannot destroy our Faith, yet if he can disturb it, if he can hinder and stop the actings of Faith, he knows all the other Graces will be lame and unactive. If the Spring in a Watch be stopp'd, it will hinder the motion of the Wheels: If Faith be down, all the other Graces are at a stand.

21. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting, is, In broaching those Doctrines that are Flesh-pleasing. Satan knows the Flesh loves to be gratified, it cries out for ease and liberty: it will not endure any yoke, unless it be lined and made soft. The Devil will be sure so to lay his bait of Temptation, as to please and humour

the flesh. The Word saith, [gap], Strive, as in an Agony, to enter into Glory; Crucifie the Flesh; Take the Kingdom of Heaven by holy Violence. Now Satan, to enervate and weaken these Scriptures, comes with Temptations and flatters the Flesh. He tells Men, there needs no such Strictness; Why so much zeal and violence? a softlier pace will serve; sure there is an easier way to Heaven: There needs no breaking the heart for Sin; do but confess to a Priest, or tell over a few Beads, or say some Ave Maries, and this will procure you a Pardon, and give you admission into Paradise: Or, the Devil can go another way to work; if he sees Men startle at Popery, then he stirs up the Flattering Antinomian, and he comes in another Disguise, and saith, What needs all this cost? What needs Repenting Tears? These are legal. VVhat need you be so strict in your Obedience? Christ hath done all for you; you may make use of your Christian Liberty. This Temptation draws away many; it takes them off from strictness of life. He who sells cheapest shall have most Customers. The Devil knows this is a cheap, easie Doctrine, which will please the flesh, and he doth not doubt but he shall have Customers enough.

22. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting, is in Reference to Holy Duties. His policy is either to hinder from duty, or discourage in duty, or put Men on too far in duty.

I. To hinder from Duty, as 1 Thes. 2.18. I would have come once and again, but Satan hindred me. So many Duties of Religion had been performed, but Satan hindered. The hand of Ioab is in this. There are Three Duties which the Devil is an enemy to, and labours to keep us from.

1. Meditation. He will let Men Profess, or Pray and Hear in a formal manner; This doth him no hurt, nor them no good: but he doth oppose Meditation, as being a means to compose the heart, and make it serious. Satan can stand your small shot, so you do not put in this Bullet. He cares not how much you Hear, nor how little you Meditate: Meditation is a chewing of the cud, it makes the VVord digest, and turn to nourishment. Meditation is the Bellows of the Affections. The Devil is an enemy to this. When Christ was alone in the Wilderness, giving himself to Divine Contemplations, then the Devil comes and tempts him, to hinder him. He will thrust in Worldly Business, something or other to keep Men off from Holy Meditation.

2. Duty, which Satan, by his tempting, would keep us from, is Mortification. This is as needful as Heaven, Col. 3.5. Mortifie your Members which are upon the Earth, uncleanness, inordinate affection. Satan will let Men be angry with sin, exchange sin, restrain sin, which is keeping sin Prisoner, that it doth not break out; but when it comes to the taking away the Life of Sin, Satan labours to stop the Warrant, and hinder the Execution. When Sin is Mortifying, Satan is Crucifying.

3. Self-examination, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves, [gap], a Metaphor from Metal, that is pierced thorow, to see if it be Gold within. Self-examination is a Spiritual Inquisition, set up in ones Soul: a Man must search his heart for sin, as one would search an house for a Traitor; or, as Israel sought for Leaven to burn it. Satan, if it be possible, will by his Temptations keep Men from this Duty. He useth a great deal of subtilty.

1. Here, First he tells them, Their Estate is good, and what need they put themselves to the trouble of Examination? Though Men will not take their Money on Trust, but will examine it by the Touchstone; yet Satan perswades them to take their Grace on trust. The Devil perswaded the Foolish Virgins they had Oyl in their Lamps.

2. Satan hath another Policy, he will shew Men the Faults of others, to keep them from searching their own: See what a Proud Covetous Man goes there. He will allow them Spectacles to see what is amiss in others, but not a Looking-glass to behold their own Faces, and see what is amiss in themselves.

II. Satan's Policy is, to discourage us in Duty. When one hath been about the performing of Holy Duties, then the Devil stands up and tells him, He hath play'd the Hypocrite; he hath served God for a Livery; he hath had sinister ends. His Duties have been full of distraction; they have been Fly-blown with Pride. He hath Offered the blind and lame▪ and can he expect a reward from God? Satan tells a Christian, He hath encreased his sin by Prayer; and by this Temptation he would make a Child of God quite out of conceit with his Duties, he knows not whether he had best Pray or no.

III. Or Thirdly, if this Plot will not take, Satan labours by Temptation to put a Christian on too far in duty: If he cannot keep a Child of God from duty, he will run him on too far in it. For instance, humiliation and mourning for sin is a duty; but Satan will put one on too far in it; Thou art not (saith he) humbled enough. And indeed, Satan never thinks a Man is humbled enough till he despairs. He would make a Christian wade so far in the Waters of Repentance, that he should wade beyond his depth, and be drown'd in the Gulph of Despair. Satan comes thus to the Soul; Thy sins have been great, and thy sorrow should be proportionable to your sin. But is it so? Canst thou say thou hast been as great a Mourner as thou hast been a Sinner? Thou didst for many years drive no other Trade but sin; And is a drop of Sorrow enough for a Sea of Sin? No: thy Soul must be more humbled, and lie steeping longer in the brinish waters of Repentance. Satan would have a Christian weep himself blind, and in a desperate mood throw away the Anchor of Hope: Now, lest any here be troubled with this Temptation, let me say this; This is a meer Fallacy of Satan, for sorrow proportionable to sin is not attainable in this Life, nor doth God expect it. It is sufficient for thee (Christian) if thou hast a Gospel-sorrow, if thou grievest so far, as to see Sin hateful, and Christ precious. If thou grievest so, as to break off Iniquity; if thy Remorse end in Divorce, this is to be humbled enough. Then the Gold hath lain long enough in the fire, when the Dross is purged out: then a Christian hath lain long enough in Humiliation, when the Love of Sin is purged out. This is to be humbled enough to Divine Acceptation. God for Christ's sake will accept of this Sorrow for Sin; therefore let not Satans Temptations drive to despair. You see how subtil an Enemy he is, to hinder from Duty, or discourage in Duty, or put Men on too far in Duty, that he may run them upon the Rock of Despair. Had we not then need (having such a subtil Enemy) Pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation: As the Serpent beguiled Eve, let us not be beguiled by this Hellish Machiavel.

23. Subtilty of Satan, in Tempting to the act of sin, is the hopes of returning out of it by speedy Repentance. But this is a fallacy; it is easie for the Bird to fly into the Snare, but it is not so easie to get out of the Snare. Is it so facile a thing to Repent? Are there no pangs in the New Birth? Is it easie to leap out of Dalilah's Lap into Abraham's Bosom? How many hath Satan flattered into Hell by this policy, that if they sin, they may recover themselves by Repentance? Alas, Is Repentance in our Power? A Spring lock can shut of it self, but it cannot open without a Key: We can shut of our selves to God, but we cannot open by Repentance, till God open our heart, who hath the Key of David in his hand.

24. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting, is to put us upon doing that which is good unseasonably.

1. To Mourn for sin is a duty. The Sacrifices of God are a broken heart, Psal. 51.17. but yet there is a time when it may not be so seasonable. After some eminent Deliverance, which calls for Rejoycing, now to have the Spirits dyed of a Sad Colour, and to sit Weeping, is not seasonable. There was a Special Time at the Feast of Tabernacles, when God call'd his People to Chearfulness. Deut. 16.15. Seven days shalt thou keep a Solemn Feast to the Lord thy God, and thou shalt surely rejoyce. Now if at this time the Israelites had hung their Harps upon the Willows, and been Disconsolate, it had been very unseasonable, like Mourning at a Wedding. When God, by his Providence, calls us to Thanksgiving, and we sit Drooping, and, with Rachel, refuse to be comforted; this is very evil, and savours of Ingratitude. This is Satan's Temptation, the hand of Ioab is in this.

2. To Rejoyce is a Duty, Psal. 33.1. Praise is comely for the Vpright. But when God by his judgments calls us to Weeping, now Joy and Mirth is unseasonable, Isa. 22.12. In that day did the Lord call to weeping, and behold joy and gladness. Oecolampadius, and other Learned Writers think, it was in the time of King Ahaz, when the Signs of God's Anger, like a Blazing-Star, did appear; now to be given to Mirth was very unseasonable.

3. To Read. The Word is a Duty; but Satan will sometimes put Men upon it when it is unseasonable. To Read at home, when God's Word is Preaching, or the Sacrament Administring, is unseasonable, yea sinful. As Hushai said, 2 Sam. 17.7. The Counsel is not good at this time: There was a Set-time enjoyned for the Passover, when the Iews were to bring their Offering to the Lord, Numb. 9.2.

Had the People been Reading the Law at home, in the time of the Passover, it had not been in season, and God would have punished it for a contempt. This is the Devil's subtil Temptation, either to keep us from duty, or to put us upon it when it is least in season. Duties of Religion not well timed and done in season, are dangerous. Snow and Hail are good for the ground when they come in their season; but in Harvest, when the Corn is ripe, then a Storm of Hail would do hurt.

25. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting, is, to perswade Men to delay their repenting and turning to God. He saith, as Hag. 1.2. The time is not yet come. Now youth is budding, or you are but in the flower of your age, it is too soon to repent, the time is not yet come. This Temptation is the Devil's draw-net by which he drags Millions to Hell. It is a dan[gap]erous Temptation. Sin is Dulce venenum, Bern. a Poison; the longer Poison lies in the Body, the more mortal By delay of Repentance, sin strengthens, and the heart hardens. The longer Ice freezeth, the harder it is to be broken. The longer a Man freezeth in impenitency, the more difficult it will be to have his heart broken. When sin hath gotten an haunt, it is not easily shaken off. Besides, the danger of this Temptation to delay Repentance, appears in this, because life is hazardous, and may on a sudden expire. What security have you that you shall live another day? Life is made up of a few flying Minutes; it is a Taper soon blown out▪ Jam. 4.14. What is your life? It is but a vapour. The body is like a Vessel, tun'd with a little breath; Sickness broacheth this Vessel, Death draws it out: How dangerous therefore is this Temptation to procrastinate and put off turning to God by repentance. Many now in Hell did purpose to Repent, but Death surpriz'd them.

26. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting, is, to infringe and weaken the Saints peace: If he cannot Destroy their Grace, he will Disturb their Peace. Satan envies a Christian should have a good day; and if he cannot keep him from Heaven, he will keep him from an Heaven upon Earth. There is nothing (next to Holiness) a Christian prizeth more, than Peace and Tranquillity of Mind. This is the Cream of Life, a Bunch of Grapes by the way: Now it is Satans great policy to shake a Christian's Peace; that if he will go to Heaven, he shall go thither through Frights, and plenty of Tears. The Devil throws in his Fireballs of Temptation, to set the Saints Peace on fire. Of such great concern is Spiritual Peace, that no wonder if Satan would, by his Intricate subtilties, Rob us of this Jewel.

Spiritual Peace is a Token of God's Favour. As Ioseph had a special testimony of his Fathers Kindness in the Party-coloured Coat he gave him; so have the Saints a special token of God's Good-will to them, when he gives them inward Peace, which is, as it were, the party-coloured Coat to wear. No wonder then if Satan so much rage against the Saints Peace, and would tear off this comfortable Robe from them.

The Devil troubles the waters of the Saints Peace, because hereby he hopes to have the more advantage of them.