that the deuill is exceeding subtill to counterfet a truce and make as though hee were our friend and meant vs no harme only to make vs secure and heedlesse of what wee haue to doe for ease slaieth the foolish Prou. 1.32 See the straragem of the Danites against carelesse Laish in Iudg. 18.7.27.28 then thinke vpon the deuill and learne to suspect that estate which is without suspicion without iealousie without watchfulnesse Secondly ponder vpon this till it bee firmly ingraffed in thy minde that the deuill is as malicious and dangerous in small sins as in great ones in those that seeme to fawne as well as those that make the haire stand on end they are so odious For why he knowes well how to make a little sinne a shooing-horn to draw on a greater He that will be brought by custome to sweare neatly and dallie with oathes faith and troth or the like will also bee brought by a stronger occasion to sweare bloudily and roaringly He that in ease and peace fals backe from his care and diligence in good duties may feare he shall easily be induced by persecutions to fall quite away A scorner now will be a Bonner hereafter Theeues doubt not if they can put in a little boy at a window but the house is their own So here For why A small sinne entertained and cherished stifleth the conscience strengthneth corruption deadeth the heart and grieueth Gods Spirit Know this and with-stand Satan in such as well as in other sinnes Here is wisdome Thirdly let the Christian thinke on this policie that hee shall wisely and mightily resist the deuill if hee make a countertraine to vndermine the vnderminer That is let him vse the vttermost of his power to chase away the works of darknesse from himselfe and his familie and the place where he liueth also to set vp the worship of God in all places and establish it where it is and maintaine and grace and adorne it for this is quite contrary to the deuils machinations It was notable policie in Scipio when no meanes would serue to driue Hannibal out of Italie then to set vpon Carthage and so draw him homeward to defend his owne So that Christian who is continually infested by the malicious temptations of the deuill may deale very wisely if he vex him againe by enlarging the kingdome of grace not only sauing himselfe harmelesse but disaduantaging this his desperate aduersarie by all means possible V. Resist him constantly Lastly resist the deuill constantly not for a day or for a moneth or for a yeere or two or three or moe but to thy liues end Luk. 22.28 Abide with Christ in tentation This is the right and the blessed resisting What credit is it for the Lords souldier to stand one day and run away the next what good or what comfort to be free to day and a bondslaue tomorrow Therefore be aduised by the Apostle Eph. 6.13 Hauing done all stand being foiled begin afresh make another skirmish and another and another and neuer cease resisting till the deuill cease tempting and molesting thee and the crowne of conquest be set vpon thine head This is the solution of the third question Quest 4 Quest 4. Why and for what reasons should I resist the deuill and what are the grounds of this opposition Answ There cannot want abundance of arguments to shew this fit and necessary Specially in 3. heads Reasons for resistance 3. First consider who is thine Antagonist or the partie whom thou resistest He is that euill one he is Satan he is the deuill And either of these hath weight enough to vrge this resistance First he is that euill one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Ioh. 5.18 The deuill euill many wayes exquisitely euill euill according to the deriuation of the word with pains and industrie so euill that none goeth beyond him none commeth neere him in wickednesse And he is euill both by his wilfull departure from God the chiefe good and by a transcendent naughtinesse which is now inherent and seemeth all one with his nature Euill by occasioning the fall of mankinde from the top of goodnesse to the gulfe of extreme wickednesse as also by stirring vp and drawing forth the corruption of mans heart Euill by disgracing and discountenancing all the wayes he can all that is good both good men and good matters And by aiming in all his proceedings at mans greatest euill Now who that hath any sparke of grace or goodnesse in him will not picke a quarrell against such a one and stoutly maintaine the quarrell being once begun Shall simple people be afraid of the deuill when they heare him described to be a blacke grim fellow with clawes and hornes and all things terrible and shall not wee doe our best to keepe out of his clutches when wee heare he is so euill so incurably and desperately euill 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 osor inimicus Secondly he is Satan an enemie an aduersary Euil is alwaies opposite to good Therefore hee whom we haue found so euill must needs proue Satan Satan to whom he is an enemie a ranke aduersarie to all that good is First vnto God He stretcheth his ioynts and mainly bandeth his forces against the Maiestie of God primarily and principally and against others for his sake He maligneth that inexhaust fountaine of infinite grace that is in him thwarteth his most holy and righteous counsels disgraceth defaceth and extenuateth his most glorious works and seeketh to rob him of his glory peculiar to himselfe alone Thus our Sauiour noted him for an aduersarie Matt. 4.10 Auoid Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serue whereas before he was only called a tempter and the deuill So in the institutions which God hath appointed for the good of his people whether spirituall ordinances or temporall encouragements Here he fully sets him selfe to crosse the Lord in all his intendments He knowes that the more meanes he giueth vs to set vs forward in his seruice the more hee looketh to be worshipped Luk. 12.48 and the more he will require at our hands and if great fauours be abused the more is he dishonoured and his seruants endangered If he can get Adam to sinne in innocencie in Paradise then he hath made a whole world of sinners and a hell full of fire-brands If he can worke Dauid to adulterie 2 Sam. 12.14 and so to murder he wounds all religion thorow his sides and makes the Name of God to be blasphemed greatly for his sake Whence would he haue had Christ to fall but from a place where were staires to goe downe Cast thy selfe downe from hence Luk. 4.9 And where doth he more bestirre himselfe than in places where people haue greatest meanes of knowledge and good conscience Secondly he is an enemie to Christ the promised seede who came into the world to destroy the works of the deuill 1 Ioh. 3.8
bones and demurres to separate betweene deare friends Fourthly he accuseth man to himselfe It he be an holy man one that feareth God and endeuoureth to perfection in the way of godlinesse he will make him beleeue that he is but an hypocrite in all he doth not a iot of sinceritie is in him therefore a cast-away a reprobate a firebrand of hell On the contrary If a man be carelesse and dissolute and looketh not which end goeth forward in things of his soule him he will make beleeue that his estate is better than it is oh he is out of all hazzard cocke-sure of eternall life and what need he feare Iust like the flatterers of the tyrant Dionysius who would licke vp his spettle and protest it was as sweet as Nectar or Ambrosia the food of their gods Thus all the sinnes of the godly are mortall and cannot be pardoned al the sins of the wicked are veniall cannot be punished Fiftly the deuill accuseth vertues for vices and vices for vertues and makes men fall into that curse of the Prophet Esa 5.20 Woe vnto them that call good euill and euill good that put darknesse for light and light for darknesse that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter What now adayes is forwardnesse in religion accounted but foolish giddinesse and what luke-warmenesse but discreet moderation How often is extreme earthlinesse shrowded vnder the name of good husbandrie and pride vnder the name of decencie and apishnesse in complements vnder the name of good manners and excessiue prodigalitie vnder the name of good nature Who hath taught this strange imposition of new names but that Grand Lier the master of falshood Sixtly he accuseth in his instruments The deuill maketh men to bee accusers sycophants picke-thanks deuils as the word standeth in the originall 2 Tim. 3.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such was Doeg against Dauid Ziba against Mephibosheth the false witnesses against Christ and those wicked wretches who informed the Heathen Roman Emperors Euseb hist eccles l. 9. c. 3. that the Christians of the Primitiue Church affected a temporall kingdome and would dispossesse them of their throne vnlesse they were the better lookt vnto Now doth Satan thus say and vnsay alter and change put in and put out and turne things vpside downe that we cannot see the truth of our estate as we should Who then would not resist this accuser this traducer this slanderer this broacher of lies and master of misse-rule Adde vnto all this that he is one who will not be ouercome by faire meanes there is no winning of a deuill with kindnesse that will not serue the turn Hee will ouerthrow thee if thou doe not ouerthrow and chase him away Therefore resist him State precor vestri memores memores quoque Christi Quae sit vestra tribus quae gloria quis Deus Rex Quis Dominus meminisse decet Prudent in Psychom Next consider who thy selfe art that must make resistance vpon Satan Who art thou Thou art a man a reasonable creature therefore as a man prouide as well as thou canst for thine owne safetie Thou art a sinner taken in the snare of the deuill and led captiue by him to doe his will 2 Tim. 2.26 therefore deliuer thy selfe as a bird out of the snare of the fowler Thou art a Christian therefore must partake of Christs powerfull grace and anointing and bee a King to conquer his and thine enemies Thou art a baptized person and vowedst enmitie against the deuill when thou receiuedst the seale of righteousnesse and entredst into the Church therefore performe the word of an honest man Thou art one of the Angels of Michael therefore must fight with him against the dragon and his Angels And one of a band of Lions for the righteous are bold as Lions Prou. 28.1 The same combat is performed by thy brethren abroad in the world 1 Pet. 5.9 therefore resist stedfastly it is the Apostles argument and stand it out sometimes one dieth in the field by cowardly vndermining and sometimes another but the Lords Champions goe still away with the victorie Finally consider we what mischiefe hee would bring vpon vs Mischiefes of being foiled if he could once foile vs. 1. Priuatiue First all the liuelihoods of a Christian all his graces and all his assurances hee would quite take away His desire is Luk. 22.31 32 to winnow the Saints and make their faith faile that by the failing thereof all the labours of a godly Ministerie may bee lost as the Apostle inferreth 1 Thess 3.5 Or if hee cannot bring them vnto flat infidelitie hee will seeke to pull them from that integritie and simplicitie which becomes the Gospell of God our Sauiour 2 Cor. 11.3 Hee will endeuour to make them vaine formall hypocriticall fantasticall or vnfruitfull or to draw them from their constancie in doing good and resisting euill And hereby he aimes at their spirituall beggerie that is to rob them of all their hopes and comforts and assurances all the ioyes of the holy Ghost and a good conscience and all the glorie of the kingdome of heauen Now shall a man fight for his purse or goods and not resist for so great a patrimonie of Saints 2. Positiue Secondly all euill followeth immediatly vpon thy ouerthrow For now thou art the deuils owne childe an vtter enemie to God and the things of God furious and outragious by little and little desperately euill heire of condemnation like thy father himselfe in sinne and punishment and thy torments shall be endlesse easlesse remedilesse Resist therefore and betimes preuent so great mischiefe And thus the foure questions are fully answered both for clearing the point and directing the Christian Warriour Let vs now descend to the vses hereof Vse 1 A reproofe disgrace to the easie life of many And first this serues to bring out of request the secure and easie condition of many people who neither doe nor wil nor thinke they haue need to suspect themselues Wee may well say of them with the Prophet Psal 73.4 5. They haue no bands vpon them either in their life or death neither doe they come into trouble as other men They are fat and strong and liuely and in very good liking They haue the world at will and more indeed than heart can desire All admire and follow and attend them and speake well of them Oh the only men in towne or country and they can thinke and speake of others and doe to them what themselues please yet all must be well Others of a meaner ranke can spend their dayes iollily and smoothly and contentedly neighbourly men good Church-keepers not only giue way to religion but some countenance and so pop into their graue as fruit gathered when it is ripe And doe you dislike or condemn this estate Vide ne fortè ideo non sit bellum quia pax peruersa est Aug. de verbis Apost serm 12. will some man
conspiracie 2 Sam. 15.11 They went in their simplicitie and knew not any thing They are traitors to God ere they be aware and serue Gods greatest enemie whom they pretend to hate None of those vile persons will yeeld hee is the seruant and childe of the deuill but will scorne the motion and professe the quite contrary But that is nothing and wee must proue shortly that wicked men are the seed of the hellish serpent Euery one is borne a limbe of the deuill and hee whom grace altereth not doth so continue resembling his father in the grossest wickednesse yet some more some lesse as children are like their parents some more than others 3. They that helpe the deuill in stead of hindring him Thirdly some there are who in stead of hating the deuill and hindring him as they should doe rather gratifie him and helpe him what they can I doe not say they purpose to doe him a good turne and meane absolutely to set him vp for the king and god of the world but in effect they doe as much they doe that which doth aduance the deuill and his kingdome among men Let them bee tried by their works as our Sauiour argued with the Iewes and then though they say neuer so often they are the children of Abraham and of God yet they will be found to be the children of the deuill Iohn 8.44 for his works they doe More they are indeed his friends his louing and deare friends for his works they set forward and procure as many as they can to ioyne with them in the same wickednesse As for example how many are there who set themselues to make their brother drunken and lay him vnder the table How many who force oathes vpon their neighbour and twit a man for a Puritane who will not rap out a fearfull oath as they would haue him How many that begin misse-rule and vile disorders in a place and that with a strong hand and a stiffe necke purposely to draw others from the obedience of the Ministerie make them like to themselues in an vnreformable obstinacie and so in other instances Woe vnto them for they lend the deuill their helping hand and striue against true holinesse which hee also striueth against This is not enmitie but amitie in the highest degree Let them looke before hand what the end will be Vse 2 Motiues vnto enmity against the euill spirits And let vs all labour for this enmitie so limited and described as wee haue seene Vsing for spurres and motiues these ensuing considerations First what are those euill spirits vnto God Most vile rebels and deadly enemies Placed at first in a most blisfull estate with God and his holy Angels in the highest heauens but through pride or vnbeleefe or some other act of disobedience they fell away and left their first habitation chusing rather to leaue God and his blessednesse than their owne opinion conceiued of and within themselues And they are still spightfull against his Maiestie oppose his honour resist his counsels and ordinances obscure his glory deface his image on man and trouble the order of the creatures Now what good subiect doth not hate to the death one that is an arrant traitor still practising against his Prince So should we be affected in this case toward this enemie Secondly what are the euill spirits to vs As full of malice as they can hold They tempt vs to euill and disswade vs from good They seeke to corrupt vs in iudgement and molest vs in our worshipping of God They intercept good means and what mercies of God they possibly can They accuse vs and raise vp slanderers persecutors other enemies with stormes and tempests and witches and other mischiefes to disturbe and fret vs and worke vs to impatience blasphemie atheisme as he said of Iob Iob 1.11 Touch him now and hee will blaspheme thee to thy face and so he intended in his owne wickednesse against him vsing also his wife to that purpose chap. 2.9 Doest thou yet retaine thine innocencie blaspheme God and die And there is no possibilitie hee should be better affected to vs therefore hate him Thirdly what are those spirits in themselues Euill onely euill continually euill greedie to doe euill watchfull thereunto and gaping after euery opportunitie to further it They loue neither God nor man no not them that are one with them and obey them in all things They loue nothing properly but sinne and mischiefe This they intend principally fully willingly maliciously Therefore also all their sinnes are sinnes against the holy Ghost therefore can neuer bee pardoned neither in this life nor the life to come They are reprobates held in the chaines of blacke darknesse against the iudgement of the great day Briefly there cannot be the like obiect for our hatred in all the world therefore hate them Fourthly GOD whom we must follow as deare children Eph. 5.1 doth hate them vnreconcileably He hath appointed no Redeemer nor Mediator for them hath made no promise of life to them nor couenant of mercy nor giuen them the least hold of him whereby they might be reconciled But contrarily he hath written in the Scripture the sentence of their condemnation hath nominated his children to bee their Iudges 1 Cor. 6.3 and hath appointed them in the meane time to exercise all hostilitie against the deuill both here and Ephes 4.27 Giue no place to the deuill and Iam. 4.7 Resist the deuill and hee will flie from you and elsewhere Then follow your Captaine Doe as yee see mee doe said Gideon Fiftly the faithfull seruants of God haue still held vp this opposition against him being the Angels of Michael who fought with the dragon and ouercame him Yea they reioyced that the deuils were subdued vnto them Luk. 10.17 see Ephes 6.12 And though good men haue sometimes beene sore shaken and foiled yet they haue got ground againe and recouered their losses and done him the more hurt for his mischiefe against them shaking his kingdome the more manfully Then ioyne with these armies of the Lord and march on with them And know that none is on their side but such as are against God none but carnall and worldly men none but the seed of the serpent the children of the deuill none but they whose example must be odious to vs as hell it selfe Count that fight good which good men maintaine and euill men traiterously let alone or ioyne with the aduersarie Sixtly the hatred of the deuill is the companion if not the ground of true grace God is not loued nor feared nor serued nor any way truly regarded till this enmitie against the deuill bee wrought in the heart Thus the termes of our conuersion are described Act. 26.18 To turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan vnto God And therefore as our Sauiour Christ saith Yee cannot serue God and Mammon Matt. 6.24 and The one must be hated that the other may be embraced so say I that the
A Spirituall Trumpet EXCITING AND preparing to the Christian WARFARE Sounded first in the vtmost parts of the Lords Campe to one wing of the Armie now in the midst for the benefit of all By WILLIAM IEMMAT Master of Arts and Preacher of Gods word at Lechlade in Gloucester shire Cyp. epist ad Cornel. Qui in pace militibus suis futuram praenunciat pugnam dabit militantibus in congressione victoriam LONDON Printed by I. H. for Iohn Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheape-side 1624. To all the LORDS Captaines and Souldiers W. I. wisheth courage and victorie GOod friends my purpose in publishing these few leaues is to rub vp the memory of those many good Treatises already extant concerning Temptations and the Christian Warfare M. Taylor M. Downam c. and to bring them into vse Pitie it is to see how so many and so good helps are generally neglected and people for most part liue as if they had neuer heard of spirituall enemies neither in the Ministerie nor otherwise Certainly it is one maine stratageme of our aduersary the deuill perswading either that there are no such blacke fiends to be feared or that they haue no power to tempt or corrupt them through the goodnesse of their hearts and the strength of their faith and working them to busie themselues about other matters worldly affaires lusts vanities and the treacherie of pretended friends true enemies While they run at large in these things they shall neglect him and his vndermining Whereto if we adde the sensualitie of carnall men and women who cannot looke vp to things aboue sense and will not when they are called on wee haue I thinke the full cause of this vniuersall securitie One of these rocks is commonly run vpon The most thinke not on it whether there be any deuill or no. Many espie a deuill but rather in others than themselues And after the sin is committed not before And it must be a foule grosse open sinne too or else it goeth without obseruation The multitude is of opinion that bare spetting at the mention of the deuill and defying of him is sufficient And so I haue marked in the very treating of these things publikely This is an vnreproueable resolution and must not be called into question And in other places where this is laughed at for great simplenes as indeed it is yet through carelesnesse or worldlinesse or voluptuousnes or other profanenesse the deuill keepes vp his strong holds and suffers in no manner as hee should The story of these wars is all they affect and regard Yea Gods owne people doe not acquâ—â— themselus so generously as they ought in this coÌ„bat but by the former euills take great foiles and hinder their progresse in grace exceedingly And some of them who resist the deuill well and carefully in respect of sanctification and the exercises thereof yet in respect of consolation and those blessed priuileges which their heauenly Father allowes them in Christ doe not resist him but passe their daies vncoÌ„fortably But these are more to be pitied than blamed Yet withall must bead monished to resist in this kinde as well as the other because the deuils malice is seene in this as in that and God hath promised victory as well as enioyned resistance If I may as a Trumpeter stir vp the Lords Campe to consider better of these enemies I haue my desire For meÌ„ of the former sort is the former voice of this Trumpet in the Direction For those of the latter sort the latter voice in the CoÌ„solation Take both together you shall acquit your selues like men like men of God Lately I endeuoured by a small watchword to arme Gods people against the malignity of the world S. Matthewes contiersion which at the worst can but put vs to the losse of all worldly comforts and must still leaue vnto vs God and Christ and our great Comforter our graces integrity of our consciences the glory of heauen And now I attempt the like concerning this Arch-enemie the god of the world 2 Cor. 4.4 the prince of darknes He hath many waies to assaile vs and we haue many weapons to repel him with promise therof and victory and a crowne of triumph There is no one thing that can discourage vs if we be not wanting to our selues in watchfulnesse in conscionable vse of the meanes and holy endeuours Therfore let vs vp and bee doing and our God will goe out with vs to assist vs and foile our enemies But I will not preâ—et my selâ—e in the ensuing exhortations Take theÌ„ good Reader as they are and though they giue not so strong and shrill a sound as in the hand of the Lords other Trumpeters yet a distinct sound they giue I trust such as may prepare good Christians to the battell The Lord of hosts who hath ordained these conflicts hath said to his Prophets their successors Esa 58.1 Cry aloud lift vp thy voice like a Trumpet and Set the Trumpet to thy mouth Hos 8.1 vouchsafe a blessing to these my endeuours and giue his people a heart to looke about them that while we keepe out carnall enemies we admit not spirituall and lose not our soules by security while wee preserue our bodies and outward estates by magnanimity What will it prosit a man to win the whole world and lose his owne sowle So I rest thirsting for a good issue of all these trialls and skirmishes to you and al the Lords Warriors that I may reioyce with you in the day of our full Triumph Lechlade Nouemb 27. 1624. W. IEMMAT A short view of the Contents of this Booke THe text consists of a Direction Consolation In the Direction six things are handled I. The Doctrine proposed and proved page 3. II. The Obiect or in what the Diuell must be resisted 1. In his own proper suggestions mouing Vnto euill p. 7. From good p. 8. 2. In the temptations of his instruments whereof 3. sorts p. 10. III. The meanes whereby be must be resisted 1. Rules of Preparation which are three Sound illumination in the points p. 19. SouÌ„d humiliation p. 26. SouÌ„d reformation p. 28. 2. Rules of Oppugnation Some meanes are Principall as 1. The Word 2. Faith 3. Hope 4. Patience 5. Prayer p. 30. Lesse Principal and auxiliary as 1. Comfort of conscience p. 42. 2. Communion of Saints p. 43. IV. The manner how the Deuil must be resisted Earely in respect of Our life three reasons p. 46. Any one temptation to sin p. 56. Gouragiously wherefoure grounds of courage p. 60. Vniversally p. 66. Wifely where three Rules of wisdome in resistance p. 68. Constantly p. 75. V. The reasons why hee must be resisted 1. The nature of the resisted That euill one diuers waies p. 77. Satan an enemie To God p. 81. To Christ p. 84. To the Gospell p. 86. To eminent men p. 89. To holy and wholsome orders p. 90. To euery particular Christia
to hold out in his religious beginnings shewes him the course of the world the backe-slidings of some the harshnesse of his courses and the pleasures or profits that he might haue and Iob 2.9 Doest thou still retaine thine innocencie blaspheme God and die forsweare thy profession and all take thy swindge and please thy selfe thou wilt neuer be younger This is the blacke voice of a blacke spirit Herein resist him II. In his instruments Secondly resist him in the temptations of his instruments That hee may leaue no stone vnturned to aduantage himselfe or disaduantage man he furnisheth men with varietie of euill arts and maketh them his factors to deale for him in all places For what Though simple people take the deuill for their enemie yet can they thinke so of their brethren will their owne flesh and bloud deceiue them Yes he hath many Agents whom hee sets on worke to deceiue the world Three sorts of factors for the deuill and loseth not his labour First false prophets or erroneous teachers who corrupt the iudgment with false doctrine as in Poperie Brownisme Arminianisme and other sects which creep in among Gods people by the flie insinuation of seducers Secondly libertine teachers who infect the life by handling the word of God loosely and deceitfully as in profanation of the Sabbath formalitie of worshipping God vsurie c. In all which they nothing else but doe that openly which Satan doth secretly and therefore they are called his Ministers 2 Cor. 11.15 Thirdly those that are either scoffers or hinderers or persecutors of the truth Some can only barke against the Sunne and doe no harme as those that put nicknames and rests and flouts vpon Professors Others haue authoritie also as ouer children and seruants and these can dishearten them by frownes and checks and vile vsage to make them weary of holinesse Others haue fire and faggot to command and any extremities they please and these can violently make away the godly till the houre of darknesse be ouerpast Al these receiue their power from the dragon Reu. 13.4 and come with his commission as Christ intimates Ioh. 14.30 The Prince of this world commeth that is in Iudas the traitor in the Iewes my accusers in the souldiers my executioners in the people that wagged their heads railed on me mocked mee bid mee come downe from the crosse and saue my selfe Thus wee see how Satan laieth about him both by himselfe and by his instruments to put vs to the worse In both these suggestions inward and temptations outward we must make resistance vpon him And this of the first question Quest 2 Quest 2. With what should we resist him for of our selues we are bare and naked and vnable to encounter him Insufficient weapons for this warfare three kindes Answ Aske coniurers charmers they will tell you you must make circles vse spels amulets and I know not what Aske simple people and they will tell you you must spet at the mention of him blesse your selues from him defie him heartily and all his workes Aske Popish Priests and they will tell you you must sprinkle your selues with holy water carry a Crucifix about you and crosse your selues well at your mouth forehead eyes eares breast and other parts These are the strawes which the deuill hath taught men to fight withall and in the meane time laughs at them in his sleeue Exire se saepe dicit fall t. epist ad Magnum often pretending as Cyprian obserued in Exorcists to goe forth and leaue the seruant of God but deceiuing c. But aske counsell at the wisdome of God and we shall finde armour of proofe indeed The word tels of spirituall scourges as the same Father elsewhere calles them wherewith the deuils are tortured Torquentur spiritalibus flagris potestate diuiua lib. ad Demetrianum and of the power of God whereby only they can be vanquished The weapons that are sufficient in two heads The meanes then of resistance stand in two sorts of Rules 1. Of Preparation 2. Of Oppugnation With some things the Christian must be furnished before hand and some other things hee must vse in the skirmish it selfe The first in three things 1. Preparatiue 1. Sound illumination 3. In speciall or knowledge 2. Sound humiliation or repentance 3. Sound reformation or holy life Neuer goe into the field without these for these are necessary and they put metall into a man as one that may be bold 1. Knowledge of 3. points First the spirituall warrior must be carefull to get sound illumination that he may know why in what he must resist Therefore he must labour to see first Gods institution ordaining these conflicts Ges 3.15 I haue put enmitie betweene thy seed and her seed he shall breake thine head and thou shalt bruise his heele Consider the battell is Gods the quarrell is Gods the armour Gods the strength Gods and the valour and victorie are Gods alone And say as Dauid 1 Sam. 17.45 I come to thee in the name of the Lord I come not vnsent without iust cause commission or authoritie no the God of heauen preast me into the field he gaue me my presse-money and liuerie and bade me fight and so I will Note God makes peace for vs with himselfe by the attonement of Iesus Christ with the creatures by vertue of that couenant with one another by the operation of the Holy Ghost but no peace with Satan his sin is vnpardonable therefore himselfe altogether vnpeaceable vnreconcilable Know this Secondly know the prouision furniture of the deuill Be fully acquainted with his malice and subtiltie and vnweariablenesse how he is expert in his forces and diligent in mustering and exercising them to the very end of thy life Be able to say as the Apostle 2 Cor. 2.11 We are not ignorant of his deuices How shall a Captaine be able to enter combat with the enemie if he know not his power plots stratagems ambushments What King goeth to warre Luk. 14.31 and sitteth not downe first and taketh counsell whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that commeth against him with twentie thousand Should he goe forth a little way and then flie or send for conditions of peace Here therefore know that the deuill is an old serpent the wisest of all beasts a beast of seuen heads and euery head hath many turnings and windings Doe thy best to take an anatomie of them Reade the works of those godly men who haue expounded Christs Temptations Especially learne what it is wherin thy selfe art most assaulted and know these things more by practise than by historie Thirdly know thine owne impotencie and insufficiencie for so great a combat both in skill and power He that knowes himselâ—e aright cannot presume as simple ones doe that he can keepe himselfe well enough or as the sonnes of Sceua Act. 19.14 who would needs ferret the fox out
of his purpose perfectly The Spirit of God assisteth the Christian heart and vpholdeth it with faith with patience with remembrance of the promises with the sense of Gods mercy and all conuenient supplies according to the seuerall and particular occasions Luk. 16.22 And at last the Angels take the soule as the soule of Lazarus and carry it into Abrahams bosome in endlesse blessednesse And now the whole skirmish is finished the field won the good fight of faith fought to the vttermost and the deuill fled away for euer and euer The point is this Doctr. The deuill resisted fleeth necessarily All the Lords Warriours who resist the deuill as they ought shall ouercome and be rid of him They are as sure of victorie as of trouble His presence is not so tedious and tiresome but his absence which is most certain shall be as ioyous and comfortable We fight not at vncertaintie but know wee shall ouercome It was for want of resistance that our first parents were deceiued and are of the forbidden tree that Dauid lifted vp his heart and numbred the people that Iudas betrayed his Master and so fell into his owne place and that euer any was subdued by the deuil was for want of resistance They that would ouercome did ouercome and could not be foiled Our Sauiour resisted and saw the deuill flying from him The Apostles and Disciples resisted and saw him fall like lightning from heauen Saint Paul resisted and found grace sufficient against the messenger of Satan that buffeted him In a word all the Angels of Michael that fought against the dragon did so thrust him to the walls that hee was cast out and his place found no more Where the Christian findes a heart hands the deuill must finde wings and heeles And why Reason 1 First because of the faithfull promise of the mightie God who is able to doe this for vs and hath said hee will doe it And hee hath said so both here Resist the deuill and he will flie from you and elsewhere The God of peace shall bruise Satan vnder your feet shortly Rom. 16.20 where the Apostle speakes of them that are wise vnto good and simple concerning euil which is all one with resisting of the deuill To such he is a God of peace and will in a little time put an end to all their conflicts For faithfull is he that hath promised who also will doe it Vincatur necesse est quia Christus quem confitemur inuictus est Cyp. de exhort Martyr Secondly the valour of our Captain is such that the enemie cannot stand before him or vs. He himselfe by himselfe did in single combat put him to the worse and made him auoid by whose conduct and conquest wee also shall goe away victors Wee goe not forth against these hellish wickednesses in our owne name and strength but in the name and strength of God by the power of Christ who was neuer ouercome yet but ouercame in euery skirmish Reu. 12.11 They ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe And hereof wee may assure our selues before we set foot out of our tents and campe as the Church of old Psalm 44.5 Through thee will we push downe our enemies through thy Name will we tread them vnder that rise vp against vs. The same voice of Christ that sent away the deuill from himselfe Auoid Satan will send him away from vs also when our temptations as his are ended Thirdly the validitie of our armour is greatly preualent for the foile of this enemie For the excellencie of it it is called the armour of God Eph. 6.13 and for the compleatnesse of it it is called whole armour of God And because of this God will not haue his workmanship so much disparaged as to suffer him that vseth it to take a repulse or suffer the armour it selfe to be broken and mangled The edge of the sword of the Spirit was neuer yet blunted by the hardinesse of the enemie no They ouercame him by the word of their testimonie Reu. 12.11 The Word of God is of an inuincible nature not one tittle of it can passe away it will vphold him that holds it forth so that he cannot perish in his afflictions The shield of faith was neuer yet bored or pierced thorow by any darts of the deuill came they neuer so thicke and violent No this is the victorie which ouercommeth the world 1 Ioh. 5.4 both the Prince of it and the malice and the allurements and the affrightments of it euen our faith Faith as much as a graine of mustard seed can doe wonders The helmet of saluation was neuer yet beat off the head of Gods Warriour So hope is called 1 Thess 5.8 by any snares of fierie temptations which the deuill rained downe vpon him No our hope is a sure anchor so stedfast in apprehending his Obiect that it entreth into that within the veile Heb. 6.19 By our patience wee may possesse our soules Luk. 21.19 euen when our enemies are most vrgent vpon vs and ready to tire vs out Euen then when we loue not our liues to the death wee shall ouercome the dragon Reuel 12.11 By effectuall and feruent praier wee shall preuaile much Iam. 5.16 The Lord neuer heareth that voice which the Archangell spake The Lord rebuke thee Iude 9. but presently he consenteth and saith The Lord rebuke thee O Satan euen the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee Zech. 3.2 So of all the parts of our Christian armour they are all so cutting and wounding and deadly in slaying that the enemie as Ahab must die of the blow and be glad to retire Fourthly the deuill is indeed an enemie but an enemie already ouercome and smitten with his deaths-wound Christ hath spoiled principalities and powers for vs and triumphed ouer them openly vpō his Crosse Col. 2.15 so that all our resistance is as it were but the kicking of a curst beast whose throat is already cut to let out his life-bloud whereby hee doth yet spurn against vs. There was no more for the Captaines of Israel to doe after the battell ended but onely to tread vpon the fiue heathen Kings whom Ioshua had ouercome Ios 10.24 Come neere put your feet vpon the necks of these Kings The like is the voice of our victorious Ioshua Come here are enemies foiled to your hands vp and trample vpon them Christ puls out the sting of the old hellish serpent and then saith in the words of the Psalmist Ipsi Christo applicat Irenaeus l. 3. c. 38. Thou shalt tread vpon the lion and adder the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet Psal 91.13 Christ put the deuill to his wings when himselfe had beene violently tempted And euer since he hath beene so crazie and fearfull that the weakest member of Christ vsing the same method and meanes of resisting hath beene able to chase him away Also by vertue thereof the
and the body of sinne shall be at last destroyed As for them that will haue peace without fighting and hope to passe away their liues comfortably not troubling themselues with the deuill and his temptations nor incurring the displeasure of the world nor yet watching the corruptions of their owne euill hearts wee enuie them not their peace but pitie them hoping and wishing and desiring God in our praiers that he will rowse them vp out of their fondnesse and set them forth to know and meet and resist and ouercome their enemies Vse 3 Be heartie in resisting the euent will giue leaue Thirdly let the people of God be encouraged hereby to goe on stoutly in resisting the deuill and that in the full measure and due manner before described Let them buckle to them the whole armour of God and still trie it as Dauid did Sauls before he went against Galiah Let them repaire breaches and recouer losses and regaine time and bee euer watchfull to saue themselues harmlesse yea to disaduantage the enemie and worke him what displeasure they can which is by furthering holinesse to the vttermost both in themselues and others Let them be bold as the righteous are affirmed to be and goe forth to the fight confidently assuring themselues of a comfortable returne and saying as he to Goliah This day will the Lord deliuer thee into mine hand and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee 1 Sam. 17.46 I know the euent will be gladsome and therefore by Gods grace I will resist vnto bloud to the last gaspe Well hold that resolution and the victorie is thine with the spoiles and crowne of it Vse 4 Fourthly in as much as the deuill flieth away in this life but only for a while therefore vse well the times of respite and of his absence Remember he will come againe Prouide for Satans return and re-entry The vncleane spirit when hee is gone out of a man findeth no rest any where all places are drie and vncomfortable vnto him and therefore he resolueth with himselfe I will returne vnto my house from whence I came out Luk. 11.24 Though he must haue the full foile at last yet he will come and doe mischiefe as long as he can And some he hath gained by importunitie Others whom he could not winne hee endangered shrewdly put them to much disqoietnesse got them to commit great errors especially comming vpon them vnawares and soone after his departure from them Wisdome would therefore that euery breathing time be well improued and rather preparation made for a new encounter than triumphs for the old Wise sea-men prouide for a storme in a calme and wise Captaines stand vpon their guard as well after a battell as before fearing lest as the Amalekites they lose more by their securitie 1 Sam. 30.20 than they got by their prowesse and magnanimitie Let the same minde and wisdome be in Christians also still to be in expectation of the deuill and his hostilitie and prouide for him accordingly And let them thinke it enough that they be at last rid of him neuer to bee again molested When they haue finished their course fought the good fight of faith then the crowne shall be set vpon their heads out now is their probation Vse 5 Follie to excuse our selues by blaming the deuill Last of all note here how false it is to say the deuill is the cause of thy sinne and hee must beare the blame of it No he was not resifted if he had he must haue fled away this promise of God is most faithsull and hee that made it is able to make it good that vpon thy resistance the only necessary condition it should haue beene performed Yet this is the ordinary allegation of carnal people when they are taken in any grosse sin Oh the deuill owed them a spight and now he hath paid them the deuill tempted them and they could not chuse and they hope they shall not be blamed for it Smaller sins they see not nor the deuils malice in them and greater sinnes they put off wholly to him So for no sinnes they betake them to serious repentance neuer see any need of Christ neuer craue mercy at the hands of God as they ought nor entertaine the due watchfulnesse for preuenting the like mischiefe another time Such must know that their sinne cannot be so posted off but will come home to them againe That the deuill tempted them is the deuils sinne and he shall be damned for it but that themselues consented and yeelded to his temptation is their sinne and let them take heed they be not damned for it likewise Eue said Gen. 3.13 the serpent beguiled her and so he did but that would not serue her turne Take heed of saying and pleading as shee did lest the like ineuitable necessitie of vndergoing the punishment befall thee also Happie is he only that resisteth the deuil from such an one only hee shall flie away The Lord make vs all wise and watchfull and valorous to espie his assaults and oppose him in his stratagems that so we may be for euer freed from that miserie and condemnation which hee and his angels are adiudged vnto AN APPENDIX of certaine Sermon-Notes vpon GEN. 3.15 I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman Quest HOw may I know whether I haue rightly conceiued doe rightly manage my enmitie against the deuill Marks of right enmitie against the deuill Answer By these markes First if it be an enmitie of Gods setting namely by the power of his holy Ordinances set apart for that purpose So our text saith I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman Many hate the deuill but it is only by the force of nature conceiuing him to be a grim blacke fellow with hornes and staring eyes and clouen feet or according to the common notions they haue receiued from others from the talke of people or the like vaine occasion Not from the word for they are strangers to it nor from the ministerie of the word for they despise it at least neglect it and will not be ruled by it Whereas a true Christian conceiueth his hatred of the deuill in the ministerie or in a serious perusall of the holy Scriptures While hee attendeth these meanes appointed for dispossessing the strong man hee findeth a stronger than he ioyning himselfe to him and with him euen the blessed Spirit of God 1 Ioh. 4.4 who is stronger than he that is in the world So Christ professed Luk. 10.18 that he saw Satan fall from heauen like lightning to wit in the Ministerie of the Disciples whom hee sent and heard relating their good successe Let this be the touchstone of your enmitie and if it hold the trying it is true otherwise counterfet and only pretended And this is a needfull condition because God only can maintaine that enmitie which is necessary for vs and only an enmitie of Gods setting can preuaile against the