have Christ the Conquerour on our side Isa 40. ult 3. Remedy It is not fit sith the head was crowned with thorns that the members should be crowned with rose-buds saith Zanch. the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian heard it they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said what is this thing that ye do will ye rebell against the King Then answered I them and said unto them the God of heaven he will prosper us therefore we his servants will arise and build but you have no right nor portion nor memoriall in Jerusalem Ah souls while you are in the very service of the Lord you shall find by experience that the God of Heaven will prosper you and support you and incourage and strengthen you and carry you through the hardest service with the greatest sweetnesse and cheerfulnesse that can be Remember this that God will suit your strength to your worke and in the hardest service you shall have the choisest assistance The third Remedie against this device of Satan is to dwel upon the hard and difficult things that the Lord Jesus Christ hath past through for your temporall spirituall and eternall good Ah! what a sea of blood a sea of wrath of sinne of sorrow and misery did the Lord Jesus wade through for your internal and eternall good Christ did not plead this Crosse is too heavy for me to beare this wrath is too great for me to lie under this Cup which hath in it all the ingredients of divine displeasure is too bitter for me to sip off how much more to drink the very dregs of it no Christ stands not upon this he pleads not the difficulty of the service but resolutely and bravely wades through all as the Prophet Isa shews The Lord God hath opened my ear and I was not rebellious neither turned away back I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the haire I hid not my face from shame and spitting Christ makes nothing of his Fathers wrath the burden of your sins the malice Godfrey of Bullen first K. of Ierusalem refused to be crowned with a crowne of gold saying it became not a Christian there to wear a crown of gold where Christ for our salvation had sometime were a crown of thorns of Satan and the rage of the world but sweetly and triumphantly passes through all Ah soules if this consideration will not raise up your spirits above all the discouragements that you meet with to owne Christ and his service and to stick and cleave to Christ and his service I am afraid nothing will A soule not stir'd by this not rais'd and lifted up by this to be resolute and brave in the service of God notwithstanding all dangers and difficulties is a soule left of God to much blindnesse and hardnesse The 4. Remedy against this Device of 4. Remedie Satan is to consider that religious duties holy and heavenly exercises are only difficult to the worser to the ignoble part of a Saint they are not to the noble and better part of a Saint to the noble part the soule and the renewed affections of a Saint holy exercises are a heavenly pleasure and recreation as the Apostle speaks I delight in the Law of God after the inward As every flowr hath its sweet savour so every good duty carries meat in the mouth comfort in the performance of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. my yoke is a benigne a gracious a pleasant a good and a gainfull yoke opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 painfull tedious man With my minde I serve the Law of God though with my flesh the law of sinne To the noble part of a Saint Christs yoke is easie and his burden is light all the commands and wayes of Christ even those that tend to the pulling out of right eyes and cutting off of right hands are joyous and not grievous to the noble part of a Saint all the wayes and services of Christ are pleasantnesse in the abstract to the better part of a Saint a Saint so far as he is renewed is alwayes best when he sees most of God when he tasts most of God when he is highest in his injoyments of God and most warme and lively in the service of God oh saith the noble part of a Saint that it might be alwayes thus oh that my strength were the strength of stones and my flesh as brasse that my worser part might be more serviceable to my noble part that I might act by an untired power in that service that is a pleasure a Paradise to me The fifth Remedy against this Device 5 Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that great reward and glorious recompence that doth attend those that cleave to the service of the Lord in the Basil speaks of some Martyrs that were cast out all night naked in a cold frosty time were to be burned the next day how they comforted themselves in this manner The winter is sharp but Paradise is sweet here we shiver for cold but the bosome of Abraham will make amends for all face of all difficulties and discouragements though the work be hard yet the wagâ—s is great Heaven will make amends for all I one hours being in heaven will abundantly recompence you for cleaving to the Lord and his wayes in the face of all difficulties This carried the Apostle through the greatest difficulties hee had an eye to the recompence of reward he look't for a house that had foundations whose builder and maker was God and for a heavenly countrey yea this bore up the Spirit of Christ in the face of all difficulties and discouragements Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Crosse despising the shame and is set downe at the right hand of the Throne of God Christians that would hold on in the service of the Lord must look more upon the Crown then upon the Crosse more upon their future glory then their present misery more upon their incouragements then upon their discouragements Gods very service is wages his wayes are strewed with roses and paved with joy that is unspeakable This is praemium ante praemium a sure reward of wel doing in doing thereof not only for doing thereof there is great reward Psal 19. v. 11. and ful of glory and with peace that passeth understanding Some degree of comfort follows every good action as heate accompanies fire as beames and influences issue from the Sun Moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward not only for keeping but in keeping of them there is great reward the joy the rest the refreshing the comforts the contents the smiles the incomes that Saints now injoy in the wayes of God are so precious and glorious in their eyes that they would not exchange them for ten
as the Apostle speaks Know yee not that the Saints shall judge the world and in that day oh how will the great and the rich the Mr. Fox being once asked whether he knew a certain poor man who had received succour of him in time of trouble he answered I remember him well I tel you I forget Lords Ladies to remember such So will the Lord deale by his poor S t s he will forget the great and mighty ones of the world to remember his few poor despised ones Though Iohn was poore in the world yet the holy ghost calls him the greatest that was born of women ah poor Saints men that know not your worth cannot have such low thoughts of you but the Lord wil have aâ— high learned and the noble wish that they had lived and spent their dayes with these few poor contemptible creatures in the service of the Lord oh how wil this wicked world curse the day that ever they had such base thoughts of the poor meane Saints and that their poverty became a stumbling block to keep them off from the wayes of sanctity I have read of Ingo an ancient King of the Draves who making a stately feast appointed his Nobles at that time Pagans to sit in the Hall below and commanded certaine poore Christians to be brought up into his Presence-chamber to sit with him at his Table to eate and drink of his Kingly cheer at which many wondering he said he accounted Christians though never so poore a greater ornament at his Table and more worthy of his company then the greatest Peers unconverted to the Christian faith for when these might be thrust down to Hell those might be his Consorts and fellow Princes in Heaven you know how to apply it Although you see the stars sometimes by their reflictions in a puddle or in the bottome of a Well I in a stinking ditch yet the stars have their scituation in Heaven So though you see a godly man in a poor miserable low despised condition for the things of this world yet he is fixed in Heaven in the Region of Heaven Who hath raised us up saith the Apostle and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Oh! therefore say to your owne souls when they begin to decline the wayes of Zion because of the poverty and paucity of those that walke in them the day is at hand when these few poor despised Saints shall shine in glory when they shall judge this world and when all the wicked of the world will wish that they were in their condion would give ten thousand worlds were it in their power that they might but have the honour and happinesse to waite upon those whom for their poverty and paucity they have neglected and despised in this world The sixt and last Remedie against this 6 Remedy device of Satan is solemnly to consider that there will come a time even in this These following Scriptures do abundantly confirm this truth Ier. 31. 12. Isa 30. 23. Isa 62. 8 9. Ioel 2. 23 24. Mica 4. 6. Amos 9. 13 14. Zech. 8. 12. Isa 41. 18 19. Isa 55. 13. Isa 66. 6 7. Isa 65. 21 22. Isa 61. 4. Isa 60. 10. Ezek. 36. 10. life in this world when the reproach and contempt that is now cast upon the wayes of God by reason of the poverty and paucity of those that walk in those wayes shall be quite taken away by his making them the head that have dayes without number been the taile and by his raising them up to much outward riches prosperity and glory who have been as the out-cast because of their poverty and paucity John speaking of the glory of the Church the new Jerusalem that came downe from Heaven in that 21. of the Revelation tells us That the Nations of them which are saved shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth do bring their glory into it So the Prophet Isaiah They shall bring their sons from far and their silver and their gold with Only take these 2 cautions First that in these times the Saints chiefest comforts delights and contents will consist in their more cleer full and constant injoyments of God 2. That they shaâ— have such an abundant â—easure of he spirit poured out â—pon them â—hat their riches and outward glory shall not be sâ—ares to â—hem but golden steps to lead them to a richer living in God them vers 9. For brasse I will bring gold and for iron I will bring silver and for wood brasse and for stones Iron vers 19. And so the Prophet Zechariah speaks Chap. 14. v. 14. And the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together gold and silver and apparell in great abundance The Lord hath promised that the meek shal inherite the earth And heaven and earth shall passe away before one jot or tittle of his word shall pass unfulfilled Ah poor Saints now some thrust sore at you others look a squint upon you others shut the door against you others turne their backs upon you and most of men except it be a few that live much in God and are filled with the riches of Christ do either neglect you or despise you because of your poverty but the day is coming when you shall be lifted up above the dunghil when you shall change pâ—vâ—rty for riches your rags for robes your reproach for a crowne of honour your infamy for glory even in this world And this is not all but God will also mightily increase the number of his chosen ones multitudes shall be converted to him Who hath heard such a Isa 66. 8. thing who hath seen such things shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day or shall a Nation be borne at once for assoone as Zion travelled she brought forth children And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all Nations upon Vers 19 20. horses and in Chariots in Litters and upon Mules upon swift beasts to my holy mountaine Jerusalem saith the Lord as the children of Israel bring an offering in a cleane vessell into the house of the Lord. Doth not the Scripture say that the Kingdomes of Revel 11. 15. this world must become the Kingdomes of our Lord Hath not God given to Christ the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possessions Hath not the Lord said that in the last dayes the mountaine of the Lords Psal 2. 8. house shall be lifted up above the hills and shall be established in the top of the mountains and all Nations shall flow unto it Pray read Isa 2. 2. Isa 54. 14. Isa 61. 9. and meditate upon the sixty chapter of Isaiah and the sixty sixth chapter and the five first verses of the second chapter of Isaiah and there you shall finde the multitudes that shall be converted to Christ and oh that you
is of wrought gold it makes men looke gloriously and speak gloriously and walke and act gloriously so that vaine souls shall be Acts 4. vers 8. to vers 15. forced to say that these are they that have seen Jesus as grace is a fire to burn up and consume the drosse and filth of the soule so it is an ornament to 2 Cor. 5. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a new creation new Adam new Covenant new Paradise new Creation new Lord new Law new hearts new natures go together beautifie and adorn the soule True grace makes all new the inside new and the out-side new If any man be in Christ he is a new creature but temporary grace doth not this True grace changes the very nature of a man morall vertue doth only restrain or chain up the outward man it doth not change the whole man a Lion in a grate is a Lion still he is restrained but not changed for he retains his Lion-like nature still so temporary graces restraine many men from this and that wickedness but it doth not change and turn their hearts from wickednesse but now true grace that turnes a Lion into a Lamb as you may see in Paul Acts 9. and a notorious strumpet into a blessed and glorious Penitent as you may see in Mary Magdalen c. Luke 7. 2. The objects of true grace are supernaturall true grace is conversant about the choisest and the highest objects 2 Cor. 4. 18. chap. 11. Hebr. 15. Prov. 14. A Saint hath his feet where other mens heads are Matth. 6. about the most soul-enobling and soul-greatning objects as God Christ precious promises that are more worth then a world and a Kingdome that shakes not a Crown of glory that withers not and Heavenly treasures that rust not The objects of temporary grace are low and poor and alwayes within the compasse of reasons reach 3. True grace inables a Christian when he is himselfe to do spirituall actions with reall pleasure and delight To souls truly gracious Christs yoke is Mat. 11. 30. 1 John 5. 3. Rom. 7. 22. easie and his burden is light his commandements are not grievous but joyous I delight in the law of God after the inward man saith Paul the blessed man is described by this that he delights in the law Psal 1. 2. of the Lord 'T is joy to the just to doe judgment Prov. 21. 15. saith Solomon To a gracious soul all the wayes of the Lord are pleasantnesse and his paths are peace But to souls that have but temporary grace but morall vertues religious services are a toile not a pleasure a burden and not a delight Wherefore have we fasted say they Isa 58. 3. and thou seest not wherefore have wee afflicted Mal. 3. 14. our soules and thou takest no knowledg c. Yee have said say those in Malachi it is vaine to serve God and what profit is it that wee have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts When will the new Moone be gone say those in Amos that Amos 8. 5. we may sell corne and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat making the Epha small and the shekell great and falsifying the balances by deceit Fourthly True grace makes a man most carefull and most fearfull of his owne heart it makes him most studious about his owne heart informing that examining that and P 〈…〉 51. 10. Psal 119. 36. 80. Psal 139. 23. Psal 86. 11. Matth. 23. watching over that but temporary grace morall vertues make men more mindfull and carefull of others to instruct them and counsell them and stir up them and watch over them c. which doth with open mouth demonstrate that their graces are not saving and peculiar to Saints but that they are temporary and no more then what Judus Demas and the Pharisees had c. 5. Grace will work a mans heart to love and cleave to the strictest and hâ—liest wayes and things of God for their purity and sanctity in the face of all dangers and hardships Thy word is very Psal 119. 140. pure therefore thy servant loveth it others love it and like it and follow it for the credit the honour the advantage that they get by it but I love it for the spirituall beauty and purity of it So the Psalmist All this is come upon us Psal 44. 17 18 19. Grace is a panoply against all troubles a paradise of all pleasures yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our heart is not turned backe neither have our steps declined from thy way Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadowes of death But temporary grace that will not beare up the soule against all oppositions and discouragements in the wayes of God as is cleare by their apostacie in that sixt Mat. 13. 20 21. of John and by the stony grounds falling away c. 6. True grace will inable a man to step over the worlds Crown to take up Christs Crosse to preferre the crosse of Christ above the glory and bravery of this world It inabled Abraham and Moses and Daniel with those other Heb. 11. Worthies in the 11. of the Hebrews to do so Godfrey of Bullen first King of Jerusalem refused to be crowned with a Crown of Gold saying that it became Few are of Hieroms mind that had rather have St. Pauls coate with his heavenly graces then the purple of Kings with their Kingdoms 2 Tim. 4. 10. Mat. 19. 20 21 22. The King of Navarr told Beza that in the cause of Religion hee would launch no further into the Sea then he might be sure to return safe to the Haven not a Christian to weare a Crowne of Gold where Christ had wore a Crown of thornes oh but temporary grace cannot work the soul to prefer Christs crosse above the worlds Crowne but when these two meet a temporary Christian steps over Christs crosse to take up and keep up the worlds crown Demas hath for saken us to embrace this present world So the young man in the Gospel had many good things in him he bid fair for Heaven and came neer to Heaven but when Christ set his Crosse before him he steps over that to enjoy the worlds Crown When Christ bid him goe and sell all that he had and give to the poor c. He went away sorrowfull for he had great possessions If Heaven be to be had upon no other terms Christ may keep his Heaven to himselfe hee 'l have none c. Then in the seventh place consider this that sanctifying grace renewing grace puts the soule upon spirituall duties from spirituall and intrinsical motives as from the sense of divine love that doth constrain the soul to wait on As what I have if offered to thee pleaseth not thee oh Lord without my selfe
hottest oppositions against those vessells that are most richly laden so doth Satan that arch Pirate against those truths that have most of God Christ and Heaven in them met with from Satan in the study of this following discourse hath put an edge upon my spirit knowing that Satan strives mightily to keep those things from seeing the light that tend eminently to shake and break his Kingdome of darknesse and to lift up the Kingdome and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in the soules and lives of the children of men c. Its exceeding usefulnesse to all sorts ranks and conditions of men 4. Reason in the world here you have salve for every sore and a plaister for every wound and a Remedy against every disease especially against those that tend most to the undoing of soules and to the ruine of the State c. I know not of any one or 5. Reason other that have writ of this Subject all that I have ever seen have only toucht upon this string which hath been no small provocation to me to attempt to doe something this way that others that have better heads and hearts may be the more stirred to improve their Talents in a further discovery of Satans Devices and in the making knowne of such choice Remedies as may inable the soules of men to triumph over all his plots and stratagems c. I have many precious friends in 6 Reason severall Countries who are not a little desirous that my pen may reach them now my voice cannot I have formerly been by the help of the mightie God of Jacob a weake instrument of good to them and cannot but hope and beleeve that the Lord will also blesse these labours to them they being in part the fruit of their desires and prayers c. Lastly not knowing how soon 7. Reason my Glasse may be out and how soone I may be cut off by a hand of death from all opportunities of doing further service for Christ or your soules in this world I was willing to sow a little handfull of spirituall seed among you that so when I put off this earthly Tabernacle my love to you and that deare remembrance of you which I have in my soule may strongly engage your minds and spirits to make this Book your Companion and under all externall or internall changes to make use of this heavenly Salve which I hope will by the blessing of the Lord be as effectuall for the healing of all your Wounds as their looking up to the brazen Serpent was effectuall to heale theirs that were bit and stung with fiery Serpents I shall leave this Book with you as a Legacie of my dearest Love desiring the Lord to make it a far greater and sweeter Legacie then all those carnall Legacies are that are left by the high and mighty ones of the earth to their nearest and dearest relations c. Beloved I would not have affection carrie my pen too much beyond my intention therefore onely give me leave to signifie my desires for you and my desires to you and I shall draw to a close My desires for you are That he would grant you according to the riches Ephes 3. of his glory to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner Vers 17. man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love May be able to Vers 18. comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth Vers 19. and height And to know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge That ye might be filled with all the fullnesse of God And that yee might walke Colos 1. 10. worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good worke and increased in the knowledge of God Strengthned with all might according Vers 11. to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfullnesse That ye doe no evill That 2 Cor. 13. 7. your love may abound yet more and more in Knowledge and in all Judgement Phil. 1. 9. That yee may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere Vers 10. and without offence till the day of Christ And that our God would 2 Thess 1. 11. count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of Faith with Vers 12. power That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ And that you may be eminent in Psal 93. 5. Sanctitie Sanctitie being Zions glory that your hearts may be kept upright your judgements sound and your lives unblamable That as you are now my joy so in the day of Christ you may be my Crown That I may see my labours in your lives that your conversation may not be earthly when the things you heare are heavenly but that it may be as becomes the Gospel That as the Fishes which live in the salt Sea yet are fresh so you though you live in an uncharitable world may yet be charitable and loving That ye may like the Bee suck Honey out of every Flower That ye may shine in a sea of troubles as the Pearle shines in the skie though it grows in the Sea That in all your trials you may be like the stone in Thracia that neither burneth in the fire nor sinketh in the water That ye may be like the Heavens excellent in substance and beautifull in appearance that so you may meet me with joy in that day wherein Christ shall say to his Father Loe here am I and the children that thou hast given me My desires to you are That you would make it your businesse to study Christ his Word your own Hearts Satans Plots and Eternity more then ever that ye would endeavour more to be inwardly sincere then outwardly glorious to live then to have a name to live That yee would labour with all your might to be thankfull under Mercies and faithfull in your Places and humble under Divine Appearances and fruitfull under precious Ordinances that as your meanes and mercies are greater then others so your account before God may not prove worse then others That ye would pray for me who am not worthy to be named among the Saints that I may be a precious instrument in the hand of Christ to bring in many soules unto him and to build up those that are brought in in their most holy Faith And that Utterance may be given to me that I may make knowne all the will of God That 2 Cor. 11. 23 24 25 26 27 28. I may be sincere faithfull frequent fervent and constant in the worke of the Lord and that my labour be not in vaine in the Lord That my Labours may be accepted of the Lord and his Saints and I may daily see the travell of my soule
that he rises by repentance Behold I am vile saith he what shall I answer thee Job 40. 4 5. ch 42. 5 6. I will lay my hand upon my mouth once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no further I have heard of thee by the hearing of the â—are but now mine eye seeth thee Wherefore I abhor my Tertullian saith that he was Nalli rei natus nisi penitentiae borne for no other purpose but to repent selfe and repent in dust and ashes Peter fals dreadfully but rises by repentance sweetly a look of love from Christ melts him into tears he knew that repentance was the key to the Kingdome of Grace As once his Faith was so great that he leapt as it were into a sea of waters to come to Christ so now his repentance was so great that he leapt as it were into a sea of tears for Luther confesses that before his conversion he met not with a more displeasing word in allhis study of Divinity then Repent but afterward he took delight in the work poenitens de peccaio dolet de dolore gâ—udet to sorrow for his sin and then to rejoyce in his sorrow that he had gone from Christ Some say that after his sad fall he was ever and anon weeping and that his face was even furrowed with continual tears he had no sooner took in poyson but he vomited it up again ere it got to the vitals he had no sooner handled this Serpent but he turned it into a rod to scourge his soule with remorse for sining against such clear light and strong love and sweet discoveries of the heart of Christ to him Clement notes that Peter so repented that all his life after every night when he heard the Cock crow he would fall upon his knees and weeping bitterly would beg pardon of this sin Ah soules you can easily sin as the Saints but can you repent with the Saints Many can sin with David and Peter that cannot repent with David and Peter and so must perish for ever Theodosius the Emperour pressing that he might receive the Lords Supper excuses Theodorit hist l. 4. c. 17. his own foul fact by Davids doing the like to which Ambrose replies Thou hast followed David transgressing follow David repenting and then think thou of the Table of the Lord. The second Remedy against this Device 2 Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that these Saints did not make a trade of sin they fell once or twice and rose by Repentance that they might The Saints cannot sin voluntate plenâ sed semiplena with a whole will but as it were with an halfe will an unwilling willingnes not with a full consent but with a dissenting consent keep the closer to Christ for ever they fell accidentally occasionally and with much reluctancy and thou sinnest presumptuously obstinately readily delightfully and customarily thou hast by thy making a trade of sin contracted upon thy soul a kind of cursed necessity of sinning that thou canst as well cease to be or cease to live as thou canst cease to sin sin is by custome become as another nature to thee which thou canst not which thou wilt not lay aside though thou knowest that if thou dost not lay sin aside God will lay thy soul aside for ever though thou knowest that if sin and thy soul doe not part Christ and thy soul can never meet if thou wilt make a trade of sin and cry out did not David sin thus and Noah 2 Pet. 2. 14. Pro. 4 14. 16. Though sin doe habitare dwell in the regenerate as Austin notes yet it doth not regnare reign over the regenerate they rise by repentance sin thus and Peter sin thus c. No their hearts turn'd aside to folly one day but thy heart turns aside to folly every day and when they were fallen they rise by repentance and by the actings of Faith upon a crucified Christ but thou fallest and hast no strength nor will to rise but wallowest in sin and wilt eternally dye in thy sins unlesse the Lord be the more mercifull to thy soul Dost thou think oh soule this is good reasoning Such a one tasted poyson but once and yet narrowly escapt but I doe daily drink poyson yet I shall escape yet such is the mad reasoning of vaine soules David and Peter c. sinned once foully and fearfully they tasted poyson but once and were sick to death but I tast it daily and yet shall not tast of eternall death Remember oh souls that the day is at hand when self-flatterers will be found self-deceivers yea self-murtherers The third Remedy against this Device 3 Remedy of Satan is seriously to consider that though God doth not nor never will disinherit his people for their sins yet he hath severely punished his people for their sins David sins and God breaks his bones for his sin Make me to Psalm 51. 8. Josephus reports that not long after the Jews had crucified Christ on the crosse so many of them were condemned to be crucified that there were not places enough for crosses nor crosses enough for the bodies that were to be hung thereon hear joy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce And because thou host doâ—e this the Sword shall not depart from thy house to the day of thy death Though God will not utterly take from them his loving kindnesse nor suffer his faithfullnesse to faile nor breake his Covenant nor alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth yet will he visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquity with stripes Psal 89. 30. 35. The Scripture abounds with instances of this kind this is so known a truth among all that know any thing of truth that to cite more Scriptures to prove it would be to light a Candle to see the Sun at noon The Jewes have a Proverb that There is no punishment comes upon Israel in which there is not one ounce of the Golden Calfe Meaning that that was so great a sin as that in every plague God remembred it that had an influence into every trouble that befell them Every mans heart may say to him in his sufferings as the heart of Apollodorus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the kettle I have been the cause of this God is most angry when he shewes no anger God keep me from this mercy this kind of mercy is worse then Qui non est crucianus non est christianus saith Luther there is not a Christian that carries not his crosse all other misery One writing to a sick friend hath this expression I account it a part of unhappinesse not to know adversity I judge you to be miserable because you have not been miserable 'T is mercy that our affliction is not an execution but a correction he that hath deserved hanging may be glad if he scape with a
Heaven-wards and Holinesse-wards in the midnight of adversity Againe afflictions serve to keep the hearts of the Saints humble and tender Lam. 3. 19 20. Remembring my affliction and my misery the wormwood and the gall My soule hath them still in remembrance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is humbled in me or bowed downe in me as the Originall hath it So David when he was under the rod could say I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou diddest it I have read of one who when any thing fell out prosperously would read over the Lamentations of Jeremiah Gregory Nazianzen and that kept his heart tender humble and low prosperity doth not contribute more to the puffing up of the soul then adversity doth to the bowing down of the soule this the Saints by experience find and therefore they can kisse and imbrace the Crosse as others doe the worlds Crowne Againe they serve to bring the Saints nearer to God and to make them more importunate and earnest in prayer with God Before I was afflicted I went astray Psal 119. 67. 71. Hos 5. 14 15. Ch. 6. 1. 2. but now have I kept thy word It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learne thy statutes I will be to Ephraim as a Lion and as a young Lion to the house of The more precious odours and the purest spices are beaten and bruised the sweeter sent and savour they send abroad so doe Saints when they aâ—â— afflicted Judah I even I will teare and goe away I will take away and none shall rescue him I will goe and returne to my place till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me early and so they did Come say they and let us returne unto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale us he hath smitten and he will bind us up After two dayes he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight So when God had hedg'd up their way with thorns then they say I will goe and returne Hes 2. 6 7. to my first husband for then was it with me better then now Ah the joy the peace the comfort the delight and content that did attend us when we kept close communion with God doth bespeak our return to God We will returne to our first Husband for then was it with us better then now When Tiribazus a noble Persian was arrested he drew out his sword and defended himselfe but when they told Most men are like atop that will not goe unlesse you whip it and the more you whip it the better it goes you know how to apply it They thaâ— are in adversâ—â—y saith Luther doe better understand Scripture but those that are in prosperity read them as a vers in Ovid. Bees are kill'd with honâ—y but quickned with vineger The honey of prosperity kills our graces but the vineger of adversity quickens our graces him that they came to carry him to the King he willingly yielded so though a Saint may at first stand a little out yet when he remembers that afflictions are to carry him nearer God he yields and kisses the rod. Afflictions are like the prick at the Nightingales breast that awakes her and puts her upon her sweet and delightfull singings Again afflictions they serve to revive and recover decayed graces they infame that love that 's cold and they quicken that faith that is decaying and they put life into those hopes that are withering and spirits into those joyes and comforts that are languishing Musk saith one when it hath lost its sweetnesse if it be put into the sink amongst filth it recovers it so doe afflictions recover and revive decayed graces The more Saints be beaten with the hammer of afflictions the more they are made the Trumpets of Gods praises and the more are their graces revived and quickned Adversity abases the lovelinesse of the world that might intice us it abates the Iustinesse of the flesh within that might incite us to folly and vanity and it abets the spirit in his quarrell to the two former which tends much to the reviving and recovering decayed graces Now suppose afflictions and troubles doe attend the wayes of holinesse yet seeing that they all work for the great profit and singular advantage of the Saints let no soul be so mad as to leave an afflicted way of holinesse to walk in a smooth path of wickednesse The second Remedy against this Device 2 Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that all the afflictions that doe befall The Christian souldier shall ever be master of the day Mori posse vinci non posse said Cyprian to Cornelius he may suffer death but never conquest the Saints doe onely reach their worser part they reach not they hurt not their noble part their best part all the arrowes stick in the Target they reach not the Conscience And who shall harme you if you be followers of that which is good saith the Apostle that is none shall harm you they may thus and thus afflict you but they shall never harm you It was the speech of a Heathen when as by the Tyrant he was commanded to be put into a morter and be beaten to pieces with an iron pestell he cries out to his persecutors you doe but beat the vessell the case the â—usk of Anaxarchus you doe not beat me his body was to him but as a case a husk he counted his soul himself which they could not reach you are wise and know how to apply it Socrates said of his enemies they may kill me but they cannot hurt me so afflictions may kill us but they cannot hurt us they may take away my life but they cannot take away my God my Christ my Crown The â—â—ird Remedy against this Deviâ—â— 3 Remedy of Satan is seriously to consider that the afflictions that doe attend the Saints in the wayes of holinesse are but short and momentary Sorrow may abide for a night but joy comes in the morning There are none of Gods afflicted ones that have not their lucida intervalla intermissions respits and breathing whiles under their short aâ—d momenâ—â—â—â— afflictioâ—s Whâ—n Gods hand is on thy back let thy hand be on thy mouth for though the affliction be sharp it shall be but short this short storm will end in an everlasting calm this short night will end in a glorious day that shall never have end 'T is but a very short time betweene grace and glory between our title to the Crown and our wearing the Crown between our right to the heavenly inheritance and our possessing of the heavenly inheritance Fourteen thousand years to the Lord is but as one day what is our life but a shadow a bubble a flower a post a span a dream c. yea so small a while doth the
hand of the Lord rest upon us that Luther cannot get diminutives enough to extenuate it for he calls it a very little little crosse that we beare The Prophet in Isaiah 26. 20. to pikron mikron saith the indignation doth not transire passe but pertransire overpasse The sharpnesse shortnesse and suddennesse of it is set forth by the travell of a woman John 16. 21. And that is a John 16. 21. Heb. 10. 36 37. sweet Scripture For yee have need of patience that after yee have done the will of God yee might receive the promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Tantillum tantillum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adhuc pusillum A little little little while When Athanasius friends came to bewaile him because of his misery and banishment he said It is but a little cloud and will quickly be gone 'T will be but as a day before God will give his Nebecula est cito transibit Athanasius afflicted ones beauty for ashes the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heavinesse before he will turne all your sighing into singing all your lamentations to consolations your sackcloath into silks ashes into oyntments and your fasts into 4 Remedy â—verlasting feasts c. The fourth Remedy against this Device of Satan is seriously to confider that the afflictions that doe befall the Saints are such as proceed from Gods dearest love As many as I love I rebuke Austine asketh Si amatur quomedo infirmatur if he were belov'd how came he to be sick So are wicked men apt to say because they know not that corrections are pledges of our adoption and badges of our Son ship God had one Son without sin but none without sorrow and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Saints saith God think not that I hate you because I thus chide you he that escapes reprehension may suspect his adoption God had one Son without corruption but no Son without correction A gracious soule may look through the darkest cloud and see a God smiling on him We must look through the anger of his correction to the sweetnesse of his countenance and as by a Rain-bow we see the beautifull image of the Suns light in the midst of a dark and waterish cloud When Munster lay sick and his friends asked him how he did and how he felt himselfe he pointed to his sores and ulcers whereof he was full and said these are Gods Gems and Jewells wherewith he decketh his best friends and to me they are more precious then all the gold and silver in the world A soul at first conversion is but ruf cast but God by afflictions doth square and fit and fashion it for that glory above which doth speak them out to flow from precious love therefore the afflictions that doe attend the people of God should be no bar to holinesse nor no motive to draw the soul to wayes of wickednesse The fift Remedy against this Device 5 Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that 't is our duty and glory not to measure afflictions by the smart but by the end When Israel was dismisled out of Exod. 11. Aegypt 't was with gold and ear-rings So the Jewes were dismissed out of Babylon with gifts jewels and all necessary utensils Look more at the latter end of a Ezra 1. Christian then the beginning of his affliction consider the patience of Job and what end the Lord made with him Look not upon Lazarus lying at Dives Afflictions they are but our fathers Gold Smiths who are working to adde pearls to our Crownes door but lying in Abrahams bosome look not to the beginning of Joseph who was so far from his dream that the Sun and Moon should reverence him that for two years he was cast where he could see neither Sun Moon nor Stars but behold him at the last made Ruler over Aegypt Look not upon David as there was but a step between him and Tiburtius saw paradise when he walked upon hot burning coals Heredotus said of the Assyrians let them drink nothing but wormwood all their life long when they dye they shall swimme in honey you are wise and know how to apply it 6. Remedy death nor as he was envied by some and slighted and despised by others but behold him seated in his Royal Throne and dying in his bed of honour and his Son Solomon and all his glistering Nobles about him Afflictions they are but as a dark entry into your Fathers house they are but as a dirty lane to a Royall Palace Now tell me soules whether it be not very great madnesse to shun the wayes of holinesse and to walke in the wayes of wickednesse because of those afflictions that doe attend the wayes of holinesse The sixt Remedy against this device of Satan is seriously to consider that the designe of God in all the afflictions that do befall them is only to try them 't is not to wrong them nor to ruine them as ignorant soules are apt to think He knoweth the way that I take and when he hath tryed me I shall come forth as gold saith patient Job So in that 8. Dan. 2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God lâ—d thee these fourty yeares in the willdernesse to humble thee and to prove thee to know what was in thy heart whether thou The King of Aracum in Scaliger tries her whom he meanes to marry by sweating if they be sweet then he marries them if not he rejects them you may easily make the application wouldest keep his Commandements or no. God afflicted them thus that he might make known to themselves and others what was in their hearts When fire is put to green wood there comes out abundance of watery stuffe that afore appeared not when the pond is empty the mud filth and toads come to light The snow covers many a dunghill so doth prosperity many a rotten heart It is easie to wade in a warme-bath and every bird can sing in a sun-shine-day c. Hard weather tries what health we have afflictions trie what sap we have what grace we have Weathered leaves soon fall off in windy weather Rotten boughes quickly break with heavy weights c. you are wise and know how to apply it Afflictions are like pinching frosts Dunghills raked send out a filthy steame oyntment a sweet persume this is applicable to sinners and Saints under the rod. that will search us where we are most unsound we shall soonest complaine and where most corruptions lie wee shall most shrinke We try mettall by knocking if it sound well then we like it so God â—â—ies his by knocking and if under knocks they yeeld a pleasant sound God will turne their night into day and their bitter into sweet and their Crosse into a Crown and they shall hear that voice arise and shine for the glory of the Lord is risen
shall not be so hot to thee as to others yet thou must as certainly to hell as others unlesse the glorious grace of God shines forth upon thee in the face of Christ God wil suit mens punishments to their sins the greatest sins shall be attended with the greatest punishments and lesser sins with lesser punishments alasse what a poor comfort will this be to thee when thou comest to die to consider that thou shalt not be equally tormented with others and yet must be for ever shut out from the glorious presence of God Christ Angels and Saints and from those good things of eternall life that are so many that they exceed number The gate of Indulgence the gate of hope the gate of mercy the gate of glory the gate of consolation and the gate of salvatioâ— will be for ever shuâ— against them Mat. 25. 10. so great that they exceed measure so precious that they exceed estimation Sure it is that the tears of hell are not sufficient to bewaile the losse of heaven the worme of grief gnawes as painfull as the fire burnes if those soules Acts 20. wept because they should see Paul's face no more How deplorable is the eternall deprivation of the beatificallvision But this not all thou shalt not be onely shut out of heaven but shut up in hell for ever not onely shut out from the presence of God and Angells c. but shut up with devills and damned spirit for ever not onely shut out from 'T was a good saying of Chrysostome speaking of Hell Ne quaeramuâ— ubi sit sed quomodo illam fugiamus let us not seek where it is but how we shall escape it those sweet surpassing unexpressabl and everlasting pleasures that be at Gods right hand but shut up for ever under those torments that are easelesse remedilesse and endlesse Ah soules were it not ten thousand times better for yee to break off your sins by repentance then to goe on in your sins till you feele the truth of what now you hear The God of Israel is very mercifull ah that you would repent and returne that your soules might live for ever Remember this grievous is the torment of the damned for the bitternesse of the punishments but most grievous for the eternity of the punishments For to be tormented without end this is Surely one good means to escape Hel is to take a turne or two in Hell by our daily meditations that which goes beyond all the bounds of desperation ah how doe the thoughts of this make the damned to roare and cry out for disquietnesse of heart and teare their haire and gnash their teeth and rage for madnesse that they must dwell in everlasting burnings for ever The eleventh Device that Satan hath 11 Device to draw the soule to sin is by polluting and defiling the soules and judgements of men with such dangerous errors that doe in their proper tendency tend to carry the soules of men to all loosnesse and wickednesse as wofull experience doth abundantly evidence Ah! how many are there filled with these and such like Christ-dishonouring and soule-undoing opinions viz. That Ordinances are poor low carnall things and not onely to be lived above but without also That the Scriptures are full of fallasies and uncertainties and no further to be heeded then they agree with that spirit that is in them That 't is a poor low thing if not idolatry too to worship God in a Mediator That the Resurrection is already past That there was never any such man or person as Jesus Christ but that all is an Allegory and it signifies nothing but light and love and such good frames borne in men That there 's no God nor Devill Heaven nor Hell but what is within us That there is no sinne in the Saints they are under no Law but that of the spirit which is all freedome That sin and grace are equally of God and agreeth to his will with a hundred other horrid opinions which hath caused wickednesse to break in as a flood among us c. Now the generall Remedies against this Device of Satan are these that follow THe first Remedy against this Device 1 Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that an erroneous vain mind is as odious A blinde eye is worse then a lame foot Lev. 13. 44. to God as a vicious life he that had the leprosie in his head was to be pronounced utterly unclean Grosse errors make the heart foolish and render the life loose and the soul light in the eye of God Errour spreads and frets The breath of the erronious is infectious and like the dogs of Congâ— they bite though they barke not like a Gangreen and renders the soul a leoper in the sight of God It was Gods heavy and dreadfull plague upon the Gentiles to be given up to a mind void of Judgement or an injudicious mind or a mind rejected disallowed abhorred of God or a mind that none have cause to glory in but rather to be ashamed Through animosity to persist in errour is diabolicall it were best that we never erred next to that that we amended our errour of I think that in these dayes God doth punish many mens former wickednesses by giving them up to soule-ruining errours Ah Lord this mercy I humbly beg that thou wouldest rather take me into thine owne hand and doe any thing with me then to give me up to those sad errours to which thousands have married their souls and are in a way of perishing for ever The second Remedy against this Device 2 Remedy of Satan is to receive the truth affectionately and let it dwell in your soules plenteously when men stand out against the truth when truth would enter The greatest sinners are sure to be the greatest sufferers and men bar the door of their souls against truth God in justice gives up such souls to be deluded and deceived by errour to their eternall undoing 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved God shall send them strong delusions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as the Greek hath it the efficacie of errour that they should believe a lye That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse Ah sirs as you love your soules doe not tempt God do not provoke God by your withstanding truth and out-facing truth to give you up to beleeve a lye that you may be damned There are no men on earth so fenc'd against errour as those are that receive the truth in the love of it Such soules Ephes 4. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. signifies cogging with a dye such slights as cheaters and false gamesters use at Dâ—câ— are not easily tossed too and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceive
his happinesse and glory hereafter Why should that man be afraid or troubled for That was a notable speech of Luther let him that dyed for my soule see to the salvation of it stormes at Sea whose treasures are sure in a friends hand upon land why a believers treasure is always safe in the hands of Christ his life is safe his soule is safe his grace is safe his comfort is safe and his Crown is safe in the hand of Christ I know him in 2 Tim. 1. 12. whom I have beleeved and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him untill that day saith the Apostle The childes most precious things are most secure in his Fathers hands so are our soules our graces and our comforts in the hand of Christ The second Remedie against this device 2. Remedy of Satan is to consider that other precious Saints that were shining Will Flower Martyr said that heaven should assoon fall as I will forsake my profession or budge in the least degree from it So Santus being under as great torment as you have read of cries out Christianus sum I am a Christian no torment could worke him to decline the service of his God I might produce a cloud of witnesses but if these do not work you to be noble and brave I am afraid more will not lights on earth and are now triumphing in Heaven have held on in religious services notwithstanding all the troubles and dangers that have surrounded them Nehemiah and Ezra were surrounded with dangers on the left hand and on the right and yet in the face of all they hold on building the Temple and the wall of Jerusalem so Daniel and those precious worthies in the 44 Psal under want of outward incouragements and in the face of a world of very great discouragements their souls clave to God and his wayes Though they were sore broken in the place of dragons and covered with the shadow of death yea though they were all the day long counted as sheep for the slaughter yet their hearts were not turned back neither did their steps decline from his wayes Though bonds and imprisonment did attend Paul and the rest of the Apostles in every place yet they held on in the work and service of the Lord and why then should you degenerate from their worthy examples which is your duty and your glory to follow The third Remedie against this device 3. Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that all the troubles and dangers that doe attend the performance of holy duties and heavenly services are but temporall and momentary but the neglect of them may lay thee open to all temporall spirituall and eternall dangers How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation He saith not if we reject or renounce so great salvation but if wee neglect or shift off as the word is so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dis-regard not care for it great salvation he doth not say how shall we escape if we oppose or persecute so great salvation no but if we let slip or neglect so great salvation how shall we escape that is we cannot by any way or meanes or device in the world escape divine Justice will be above us in spight of our very souls The doing of such and such heavenly services may lay you open to the frowns of men but the neglect of them will lay you open to the frowns of God the doing of them may render you contemptible in the eyes of men Francis Xaverius counselled John the third King of Portugal to meditate every day a quarter of an hour upon that Text What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world loose his soule but the neglect of them may render you contemptible in the eyes of God the doing of them may be the losse of thy estate but the neglect of them may be the losse of God Christ Heaven and thy soule for ever the doing of them may shut thee out from some outward temporal contents the neglect of them may shut thee out from that excellent matchlesse glory that eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive Remember this there is no man that breaths but shall suffer more by neglecting those holy and heavenly services that God commands commends and rewards then possibly he can suffer by doing of them c. The fourth Remedie against this device 4 Remedie of Satan is to consider this that God knows how to deliver from troubles by troubles from afflictions by afflictions from dangers by dangers God by lesser troubles and afflictions doth oftentimes deliver his people from greater So that they shall say we had perished if wee had not perished we had been undone if we had not been Pâ—riissem nisi periissem undone we had been in danger if wee had not been in danger God will so order all the afflictions that befall you in the way of righteousnesse that your Non essem ego salvus nisi istae periissent Anaxagoras had not these things perished I could not have been safe said this Philosopher when he saw great possessions that he had lost soules shall say we would not for all the world but that wee had met with such and such troubles and afflictions for surely had not these befallen us it would have been worse and worse with us Oh! the carnal security pride formality dead-heartednesse lukewarmnesse censoriousnesse and earthlinesse that God hath cured us of by the troubles and dangers that we have met with in the wayes and services of the Lord. I remember a story of a godly man that as hee was going to take shipping for France he broke his leg and it pleased Providence so to order it that the ship that he should have gone in at that very time was cast away and not a man saved so by breaking a bone his life was saved So the Lord many times breaks our bones but 't is in order to the saving of our lives and our soules for ever he gives us a potion that makes us heart-sick but 't is in order to the making us perfectly well and to the purging of us from those ill humours that have made our heads ake and Gods heart ake and our souls sick and heavy to the death c. Oh! therefore let no danger or misery hinder thee from thy duty The fifth Remedie against this device of Satan is solemnly to consider that you shall gaine more in the service of God and by walking in righteous and holy wayes though troubles and afflictions should attend you then you can possibly suffer or loose by your being found in the service of God Godlinesse is great gaine Oh the joy the peace Tertullian in in his book to the Martyrs hath an apt saying Negotiatio est aliquid amittere ut majora lucreris i. e. that 's right good merchandize
thousand worlds Ah! if the vailes be thus sweet and glorious before pay-day comes what will be that glory that Christ will crown his Saints with for cleaving to his service in the face of all difficulties When he shall say to his father Loe here am I and the children which thou hast given me if there be so much to be had in a wildernesse what then shall be had in Paradise c. The fourth Device that Satan 4 Device hath to keep soules off from holy exercises from religious services is BY working them to make false inferences from those blessed and glorious things that Christ hath done As that Jesus Christ hath done all for us therefore there is nothing for us to doe but to joy and rejoyce he hath perfectly justified us and fulfilled the Law and satisfied divine Justice and pacified his Fathers wrath and is gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us and in the mean time to intercede for us and therefore away with praying and mourning and hearing c. Ah! what a world of Professors hath Satan drawn in these dayes from religious services by working them to make such sad wilde and strange inferences from the sweet and excellent things that the Lord Jesus hath done for his beloved ones Now the Remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow THe first Remedie against this device 1. Remedie of Satan is to dwell as much on those Scriptures that shew you the duties and services that Christ requires of you as upon those Scriptures that declare Tertullian hath this expression of the fulnesse of the Scriptures Adoro plenitudinem Scripturarum I adore the fulnesse of the Scripture Gregory calls the Scripture cor animam Dei the heart soule of God and who will not then dwell on it to you the precious and glorious things that Christ hath done for you 'T is a sad and a dangerous thing to have two eyes to behold our dignity and priviledges and not one eye to see our duties and services I should look with one eye upon the choise and excellent things that Christ hath done for me to raise up my heart to love Christ with the purest love and to joy in Christ with the strongest joy and to lift up Christ above all who hath made himself to be my all And I should look with the other eye upon those services and duties that the Scriptures require of those for whom Christ hath done such blessed things as upon that of the Apostle What know yee not that your body 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your owne For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods And that 1 Cor. 15. 58. therefore my beloved brethren be yee stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord knowing that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. And that And let us not be weary in well doing for in due Gal. 6. 9. 2. season we shall reape if we faint not And that of the Apostle rejoyce alwayes and pray without ceasing and that in the Philippians Worke out your salvation with Phil. 2 12 13 1 Cor. 11. 26. Heb 10. 24 25. feare and trembling and that This doe till I come and that Let us consider one another to provoke one another to love and to good workes not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the mannor of some The Jews were much in turning over the leaves of the Scripture but they did not weigh the matter of them John 5. 39. You search the Scripture Gr. there seemeth to be indicative rather then imperative is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching Now a soule that would not be drawn away by this device of Satan hee must not look with a squint eye upon these blessed Scriptures and abundance more of like import but he must dwell upon them he must make these Scriptures to be his chiefest and his choisest companions and this will be a happy meanes to keep him close to Christ and his service in these times wherein many turn their backs upon Christ under pretence of being highly interested in the great and glorious things that have been acted by Christ c. The second Remedie against this Device 2. Remedie of Satan is to consider that the great and glorious things that Jesus Christ hath done and is a doing for us should be so far from taking us off from religious services and pious performances that they should be the greatest motives and encouragements to the performance of them that may be as the Scriptures do abundantly evidence I 1 Pet. 2. 9. Luke 1. 74 75. This I am sure of that all mans happines here is his holinesse and his holinesse shall hereafter be his happiness Christ hath therefore broke the Devils yoke from off our necks that his Father might have better service from our hearts 2 Cor. 6. 6. 17 18. ch 7. 1. compared will only instance in some as that That we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our lives Christ hath freed you from all your Enemies from the curse of the Law the predominant damnatory power of sin the wrath of God the sting of death and the torments of hell but what is the end and design of Christ in doing these great and marvellous things for his people 't is not that they should throw off duties of righteousnesse and holinesse but that their hearts may be the more free and sweet in all holy duties and heavenly services So the Apostle I will be their God and they shall be my people And I will be a Father unto you and yee shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almighty mark what follows Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of the Lord. And againe The grace of God that Yit 2. 11 12 13 14. bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men Teaching us that denying all ungodlinsse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious Tace lingua loquere vita talk not of a good life but let thy life speak Your actions in passiâ—g pass not away for every good work is a grain of seed for eternall life appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave him selfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquity and purifie unto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Ah soules I know no such arguments to worke you to a lively and constant performance of all heavenly services like
those that are drawn from the consideration of the great and glorious things that Christ hath done for you and if such arguments will not take yee and win upon yee I doâ— think the throwing of hell fire in your faces will never do it The third Remedie against this device 3. Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that those precious souls which Jesus Christ The Saints Motto in all ages hath been Laboremus let 's be doing hath done and suffered as much for as he hath for you have been exceeding active and lively in all religious services and heavenly performances he did as much and suffered as much for David God loves curristas not quaristas the runner not the questioner or disputer saith Luther aâ— for you and yet who more in praying and praysing God then David seven times a day will I praise the Lord who more in the studying and meditating on the word then David Thy law is my meditation day and night The same truth you may run and read in Jacob Moses Job Daniel and in the rest of the holy Prophets and Apostles for whom Christ hath done as much for as for you ah how have all those Worthies abounded in works of righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise of free grace Certainly Satan hath got the upper hand of those souls that do argue thus The day is at hand when God will require of men non quid legerint sed quid egerint nec quid dixerint sed quomodo vixerinâ— He that talks of heaven but doth not the will of God is like him that gazed upon the Moon but fell into the pit Christ hath done such and such glorious things for us therefore wee need not make any care or conscience of dâ—ing such and such religious services as men say the word calls for if this Logick be not from Hell what is ah were the holy Prophets and Apostles alive to heare such Logick come out of the mouths of such as professe themselves to be interested in the great and glorious things that Jesus Christ hath done for his chosen ones how would they blush to look upon such souls and how would their hearts grieve and break within them to heare the language and to observe the actings of such soules The fourth Remedy against this device 4. Remedy of Satan is seriously to consider this that those that doe not walk in ways of righteousnesse and holines that do not wait upon God in the several duties and services that are commanded by him cannot have that evidence to their own soules of their righteousnesse before God of their fellowship and communion Certainly 't is one thing to judg by our graces another thing to rest or put our trust in them There is a great deal of difference betwixt declaring and deserving on with God of their blessednesse here and their happinesse hereafter as those soules have that love and delight in the wayes of the Lord that are always best when they are most in the works and service of the Lord. Little children saith the Apostle let no man deceive you he that doth righteousnesse is righteous even as he is righteous In this saith the same Apostle the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devill whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither hee As Davids daughters were known by their garments of divers colours so are Gods children by their piety and sanctity that loveth not his brother If ye know that he is righteous saith the same Apostle ye know that every one that doth righteousnesâ— is born of him He that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandements is a lyer and the truth is not in him But who soever keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walke even as he A Christians embleme should be an house walking towards Heaven High words surely make a man neither holy nor just but a vertuous life a circumspect walking makes him deare to God A tree that is not fruitful is for the fire Christianity is not a talking but a walking with God who will not be put off with words if he misse of fruit he will take up his axe and then the soul is cut off for ever walked If wee say that we have fellowship with him and walk iâ— darknesse we lie and doe not the truth but if we walk in the light as he is in the light wee have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin saith the same Apostle So James in his second chapter What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath faith and have no workes can faith save him i. e. it cannot for as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead To looke after holy and heavenly works is the best way to preserve the soule from being deceived and deluded by Satans delusions and by sudden flashes of joy and comfort holy works being a more sensible and constant pledge of the precious spirit begetting and maintaining in the soule more solid pure clear strong and lasting joy Ah souls as you would have in your selves a constant and blessed evidence of your fellowship with the Father and the Sonne and of the truth of grace and of your future happinesse look that you cleave close to holy services and that you turne not your backs upon religious duties The fifth Remedy against this device 5 Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that 'T is a precious truth never to be forgotten Quod non actibus sed finibus pensantur officia that duties are esteemed not by their acts but by their ends there are other choice and glorious ends for the Saints performance of religious duties then for the justifying of their persons before God or for their satisfying of the Law or justice of God or for the purchasing of the pardon of sin c. viz. to testifie their justification a good tree cannot but bring forth good fruit to testifie their love to God and their sincere obedience to thâ— commands of God to testifie their deliverance from spirituall bondage to evidence the indwellings Finis moveâ— ad agendum the end moves to doing of the spirit to stop the mouths of the worst of men and to glad those righteous souls that God would not have sadded These and abundance of other choise ends there be why those that have an interest in the glorious doings of Christ should notwithstanding that keep close to the holy duties and religious services that are commanded Tene mensuram respice sinem keep thy selfe within compasse and have an eye always to the end of thy life and actions was Maximimilians the Emperours Motto by Christ And if these considerations will not prevail with you to wait upon God in
Christ hath given sinne its deaths wound by his power spirit death and resurrection yet it will die but a lingring death As a man that is mortally wounded dies by little and little so doth sin in the heart of a Saint The death of Christ on the Crosse was a lingring death so the death of sin in the soule is a lingering death now it dies a little and anon it dies a little c. as the Psalmist speaks Slay them not least my people forget scatter them by thy power and bring them downe oh Lord our shield He would not have them utterly destroyed but some reliques preserved as a memoriall so God dealeth in respect of sin 't is wounded and brought downe but not wholly slaine something is still left as a monument of the Divine grace and to keep us humble wakefull and watchfull and that our armour may be still kept on and our weapons alwayes in our hands The best mens soules in this life hangs between the flesh and the spirit as it were like Mahomets Tomb at Aleppo between two load-stones like Erasmus as the Papists paint him betwixt The Romanes lost many a battel â—nd yet in the issue were Conquerors in all their wars 't is just so with the Saints Heaven and Hell like the Tribe of Manasseh halfe on this side Jordan in the Land of the Amorites and halfe on that side in the Holy Land yet in the issue they shall overcome the flesh and trample upon the necks of their spirituall enemies The Sixth Device that Satan hath to keep a poor soule in a sad doubting and questioning condition is BY suggesting to the soule that surely 6 Device his estate is not good because he cannot joy and rejoyce in Christ as once he could because he hath lost that comfort and joy that once was in his spirit Saith Satan thou knowest the time was when thy heart was much carried out to joying and rejoycing in Christ thou doest not forget the time when thy heart used to be full of joy and comfort but now how art thou fallen in thy joyes and comforts Therefore thy estate is not good thou doest but deceive thy selfe to think that ever it was good for surely if it had thy joy and comfort would have continued And hereupon the soule is apt to take part with Satan and say 't is even so I see all is naught and I have but deceived my owne soule c. Now the Remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow THe first Remedy against this Device 1 Remedie of Satan is to consider that the losse of comfort is a separable adjunct from grace the soul may be fâ—ll of holy affections when 't is empty of Divine consolations There may be and often Ps 63. 1 2 8. Isa 50. 10. 7. Mic. 7. 8 9. Psal 42. 5 is true grace yea much grace where there is not a drop of comfort nor a dram of joy Comfort is not of the being but of the wel-being of a Christian God hath not so linked these 2 choice lovers together but that they may be Spirituall joy is a Sun that is often clouded though it be as precious a flower as most Paradise affords yeâ— 't is subject to side and wâ—â—ther put asunder That wisdome that is from above will never work a man to reason thus I have no comfort therefore I have no grace I have lost that joy that once I had therefore my condition is not good was never good c. but 't will inable a man to reason thus tho my comfort is gone yet the God of my comfort abides though my joy is lost yet the seeds of grace remaine The best mens joyes are as glasse bright and brittle and evermore in danger of breaking The second Remedy against this Device 2 Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that the precious things that thou still injoyest are far better then the joyes and comforts that thou hast lost Thy union with Christ thy communion with Christ thy son-ship thy saint-ship thy heir-ship thou still injoyest by Christ is far better then the comforts thou hast lost by sin what though thy comforts be gone yet thy union and communion with Christ remaines though thy comforts be gone yet thou art a Son tho Jer. 31. 18 19 20. a comfortlesse Son an heir though a comfortlesse heir a Saint though a comfortlesse Saint Though the bag of silver thy comforts be lost yet the When one objected to Faninus his chearfullnesse to Christs Agony and sadnesse he answered Christ was sad that I might bemerry he had my sins and I have his righteousnesse box of Jewels thy union with Christ thy communion with Christ thy Sonship thy Saint-ship thy Heir-ship which thou still injoyest is far better then the bag of silver thou hast lost yea the least of those precious Jewels is more worth then all the comforts in the world well let this be a cordiall to comfort thee a star to lead thee and a staffe to support thee that thy box of Jewels are safe though thy bag of silver be lost The third Remedie against this Device 3 Remedy of Satan is to consider that thy condition is no other then what hath been the condition of those precious Psal 51. 12. Psal 30. 6 7. Job 23. 6 8 9. 30. 31. Lam. 1. 16. Mat. 27. 46. soules whose names were written upon the heart of Christ and who are now at rest in the bosome of Christ One day you shall have them praising and rejoycing the next day a mourning weeping one day you shall have them a singing Psal 42. 5. The Lord is our portion the next day a sighing and expostulating with themselves Lam. 5. 15. Why are yee cast downe oh our souls Why is our Harp turned to mourning And our Organ into the voice of them that weep c. The fourth Remedy against this Device 4 Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that the causes of joy and comfort are not alwayes the same Happily thy former joy and comfort did spring from The spirit doth not every day make a feast in the soul he doth not make every day to be a day of wearing the wedding robes the witnesse of the spirit he bearing witnesse to thy soule that thy nature was changed thy sins pardoned thy soule reconciled c. Now the Spirit may upon some speciall occasion bear witnesse to the soul that the heart of God is dearly set upon him that he loves him with an everlasting love c. and yet the soule may never injoy such a testimony all the dayes of his life again Though the spirit be a witnessing spirit it 's not his office every day to witnesse to believers their interest in God Christ Heaven c. Or happily thy former joy and comfort did spring from the newnesse and suddennesse of the change of thy condition for a man in one
abilities have been their utter overthrow and ruine General counsels were seldome succesfull because men came with confidence leaning to their owne understanding and seeking for victory rather then verity saith one as you may see in Achitophel and those Presidents and Princes that engaged against Daniel and in the Scribes and Pharisees God loves to confute men in their Confidences he that stands upon his parts and abilities doth but stand upon a quick-sand that will certainly faile him There is nothing in the world that provokes God more to with-draw from the soul then this and how can the soul stand when his strength is departed from him Every thing that a man leanes upon but God will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through ah how many in these dayes have lost their estates their friends their lives their souls by leaning upon their admired parts and abilities The Saints are described Cant. 8. 5. by their leaning upon their beloved the Lord Jesus he that leanes onely upon the bosome of Christ lives the highest choycest safest and sweetest life miseries alwayes lye at that mans doore that leans upon any thing below the precious bosome of Christ Such a man is most in danger and this is none of his least plagues that he thinks himselfe secure 'T is the greatest wisdome in the world to take the wise mans counsell Trust in the Lord with all thy Prov. 3. 5. heart and leane not to thine owne understanding The third Remedy against this Device 3 Remedie of Satan is to consider that you doe not transcend others more in parts and abilities then they doe you in Judas and the Scribes Pharisees had great parts but no grace the Disciples had grace but weak parts grace and holinesse there may be and often is great parts and abilities where there is but little grace yea no grace and there may be and often is a great deale of grace where there is but weak parts and abilities you may be higher then others in gifts of knowledge utterance learning c. and those very souls may be higher then you in their communion with God in their delighting Luke 11. 1. Mark 8. 31 32 33. Luke 24. 19. to 28. in God in their dependance upon God in their affections to God and in their humble holy and unblamable walking before God Is it folly and madnesse in a man to make light and slight of another because he is not so rich in lead or iron as he when he is a thousand thousand times richer in silver and in gold in Jewels and in Pearls then he And is it not madnesse and folly with a witnesse in those that have greater parts and abilities then others â—o slight them upon that account when that those very persons that they make light and slight of have a thousand times more grace then they And yet ah how doth this evill spirit prevaile in the world 'T was the sad complaint of Austin in his time The unlearned said Surgeant indocti rapiunt coelum nos cum doctrinis nostris detrudimur in gehennaÌ„ he rise up and take Heaven by violence and we with all our learning are thrust down to hell 't is sad to see how many of the Rabbies of these times doe make an Idol of their parts and abilities and with what an eye of pride scorne and contempt doe they looke upon those that want their parts and that doe not worship the idoll that they have set up in their own hearts Paul who was the great Doctor of the Gentiles did wonderfully transcend in all parts and abilities the Doctors and Rabbies of our times and yet ah how humbly how tenderly how sweetly doth he carry himselfe towards the meanest and the 1 Cor 9. 22. 2 Cor. 11. 29. weakest To the weake I became as weake that I might win the weak I am made all things to all men that I might by all meanes save some Who is weak and I am not weak who is offended and I burne not Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend I will eaâ— no flesh while the World standeth least I make my brother to offend But ah how little of this sweet spirit is to be found in the Doctors of our age who look sowrely speak bitterly against those that doe not see as they see nor cannot speak as they speak Sirs the spirit of Isa 60. 13 14 15 16 17. the Lord even in despised Saints will be too hard for you and his appearances in them in these latter dayes will be so full of spirituall beauty and glory as that they will darken that that you are too apt to count and call your glory the spirit of the Lord will not suffer his choycest jewell grace to be alwayes buried under the straw and stubble of parts and gifts The fourth Remedy against this Device 4 Remedy of Satan is to consider that there Becanus saith that the tree of Knowledge beares many leaves and little fruit ah that it were not so with many in these dayes who once did out-shine the stars c. is no such way for men to have their gifts and parts blasted and withered as to pride themselves in them as to rest upon them as to make light and slight of those that want them as to engage them against those persons wayes and things that Jesus Christ hath set his heart upon Ah! how hath God blasted and withered the parts and abilities of many among us that have once been famous shining lights how is their sun darkned and their glory clouded How Zech. 11. 17. is the sword of the Lord upon their arme and upon their right eye How is their arm clean dried up and their right eye utterly darkned as the Prophet speaks This is matter of humiliation and lamentation many precious discerning Saints doe see this and in secret mourn for it and oh that they were kindly sensible of Gods withdrawing from them that they may repent keep humble and carry it sweetly towards Gods Jewels and lean only upon the Lord and not upon their parts and understanding that so the Lord may delight to visit them w th his grace at such a rate as that their faces may shine more gloriously then ever and they may be more serviceable to the honour of Christ and the faith of the Saints then formerly they have been c. Thirdly Satan hath his Devices to destroy the Saints one great Device that he hath to destroy the Saints is BY working them first to be strange Gal 5. 15. If we knock we break dissolution is the dâ—â—ghter of dâ—ssenâ—ion and then to divide and then to be biâ—er and jealous and then to bite and devoure one another our owne wofull experiâ—nce is too great a proof of this The Israelites in Aegypt did not more vex one another then Christians in these dayes have done which occasioned a
sweetly coming down into the soul and the soul by divine influences sweetly ascending up to Christ Communion with Christ is very inflaming raising and strengthning while Sampson kept up his communion The sea ebbs and flows the Moon encreases and decreases so 't is with Saints in their communion with God with God no enemy could stand before him but he goes on conquering and to conquer but when he was fallen in his communion with God he quickly falls before the plots of his enemies 't wil be so with your soules so long as your communion with God is kept up you wil be too hard for spiritual wickednesses in high places but if you fall from your Plutarch tells of Eudoxus that he would be willing to be burnt up presently by the Sun so he might be admitted to come so near it as to learne the nature of it what should not wee be content to suffer for the keeping up of commuion with Christ communion with God you will fall as others before the face of every temptation David so long as he kept up his communion with God he stands and triumphs over all his enemies but when he was fallen in his communion with God then he falls before the enemies that were in his own bosom flies before those that pursued after his life 'T wil be so with your souls if you doe not keepe up your communion with God Iob keeps up his communion with God and conquers Satan upon the dunghill Adam looses his communion with God and is conquered by Satan in Paradise Communion with God is a shield upon land as well as an anchor at sea 't is a sword to defend you as well as a staffe to support you therefore keep up your communion 9. If you would not be taken in any of Satans snares then engage not against Satan in your own strength but That is a remarkable saying of Moses Exod. 15. God is fortitudo mea and Laus mea and salus mea my strength and my praise and my salvation all in the abstract be every day drawing new vertue and strength from the Lord Jesus certainly that soule that engages against any old or new temptation without new strength new influences from on high will fall before the power of the temptation you may see this in Peter hee rested upon some old received strength Though all men should deny thee yet will not I and therefore he falls sadly before a new temptation he curses and Mat. 26. swears and denies him thrice that had thrice appeared gloriously to him ah soules when the snare is spread look up to Jesus Christ who is lifted up in the Gospell as the brazen Serpent was 'T is but look up and live look unto me and be saved from the ends of the earth 〈◊〉 45. 2â— in the wildernesse and say to him Dear Lord here is a new snare laid to catch my soule and grace formerly received wiâ—hout fresh supplies from thy blessed bosome will not deliver me from this snare oh give me new strength new power new influences new measures of grace that so I may escape this snare Ah soules remember this that your John 15. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is seorsim a me separat from me or apart from me ye can doe nothing strength to stand and overcome must not be expected from graces received but from the fresh and renewed influences of Heaven you must leane more upon Christ then upon your duties you must leane more upon Christ then upon spirituall taftâ— and discoveries you must leane more upon Christ then upon your graces or else Satan will lead you into captivity c. Tenthly and lastly If you would not be taken in any of Satans snares then be much in prayer prayer is a shelter to the soule a sacrifice to God and a scourge to the Devill Davids heart was oft more out of tune then his Harp he prays and then in spight Of Carolus Magnus it was spoken Carolus plus cum Deo quam cum hominibus loquitur that he spake more with God then with men ah that I could say so of the Christians in our dayes of the Devill cries returne unto thy rest oh my soule Prayer is Porta coeli clavis Paradisi the gate of Heaven a key to let us into Paradise there is nothing that renders plots fruitlesse like prayer therefore saith Christ watch and pray that yee enter not into temptation you must watch and pray and pray and watch if you would not enter into temptation When Sennacherib and Haman had laid plots and snares to have destroyed the Jewes they prayed and their souls were delivered Sennacherib and Hâ—man destroyed David had many snares laid for him and this putâ— him upon prayer Keep me saith hee from the snare which they have laid for me Psal 141. 9 10. and the grins of the workers of iniquity Let the wicked fall into their owne nets whilst that I escape The proud saith he hath hid a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the way side they have set grins Psal 140. 5 6. for me Selab I said unto the Lord thou art my God heare the voyce of my supplication Nunquam abs te absque te recedo Bern. Oh Lord saith he I never go away from thee without thee oh Lord. Saul and many others had laid snares for David and this puts him upon prayer and so the snares are broken and he is dâ—lived ah souls take words to your selves and tell God that Satan hath spread his snares in all places and in all companies tell God that he digs deep and that he hath plot upon plot and device upon device and all to Let us saith Basil with a holy impudence make God ashamed that he cannot looke us in the face if he do deny our importunity Jacob like I wil not let thee go unlesse thou blesse me undo you tell God that you have neither skill nor power to escape his snares tell God that 't is a work too high and too hard for any created creature to work your deliverance unlesse he puts under his own everlasting arms tell God how his honour is engaged to stand by you and to bring you off that you be not ruin'd by his plots tell God how the wicked would triumph if you should fall into Satans snares tell God of the love of Christ of the blood of Christ and of the intercession of Christ for you that away may be found for your escape tell God if he will make it his honour to save you from falling into Satans snares you will make it your glory to speak of his goodnesse and to live out his kindenesse Christians must do aâ— Dedâ—lus that when hee could not escape by a way upon earth went by a way of heaven and that is the way of prayer which is the only way left to escape Satans snares c. The next Use is a
use of thankfulness Vse to those that escape Satans snares that are not taken by him at his will ah Christians it stands you upon with that Princely Prophet David to call upon your soules and say Blesse the Psal 103. 1 2. Lord oh our soules and all that is within us blesse his holy name Blesse the Lord oh our soules and forget not all his benefits who hath not given us to be a prey to Satan and to be ensnared by those snares that he hath laid for our souls the sense of this great favour did work up Davids heart to praises Blessed be the Lord saith Psalm 144. 6 7. hee who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth our soule is escaped as a bird out of the snares of the Fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped Ah Christians Remember that the greatest part of the world yea the greatest part of Professors are taken in Satans snares can you think seriously of this and not The Ancients use to say ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris say a man is unthankfull and say he is any thing blush to be unthankful what are you better then others and what have you deserved of God or done for God more then otherâ— that you should by the help of a Divine hand escape the snares when others are taken and held in the snares of the Devill to their eternall Psal 71. 14. I will yet praise thee more more in the Originall 't is I will adde to thy praise overthrow c. Will you be thankfull for the escaping the snares that men spread for your lives or estates c and will you not be much more thankfull for escaping those snares that Satan hath laid for your precious souls Remember this that deliverance The Stork is said to leave one of her young ones where shee hatcheth them and the Elephant to turn up the first sprig toward Heaven when he cometh to feed out of some instinct of gratitude ah soules that these may not bear witnesse against you in the day of Christ from Satans snares doth carrie with it the clearest and the greatest evidence of the soule and heart of God to be towards you Many a man by a common hand of Providence escapes many a snare that man hath laid for him but yet escapes not the snares that Satan hath laid for him Saul and Iudas and Demas doubtlesse escaped many snares that men had laid for them but none of them escaped the snares that the Devill had laid for them Many men are lifted up above the snares of men by a common hand of providence that are left to fall into the snares of the Devill by a hand of Justice your deliverance from Satans snares is a fruit of speciall love can you thus look upon it and not be thankfull oh precious soules I judge not The last use of this point is to bespeak Vse Christians to long to be at home oh long to be in the bosome of Christ long to be in the Land of Canaan for Austin wished that he might have seene 3. things Rome flourishing Paul preaching Christ conversing with men upon the earth Bede comes after correcting this last wish faith yea but let me see the King in his beauty Christ in his heavenly Kingdome this world this wildernesse is full of snares and all employments are full of snares and all enjoyments are full of snares in civill things Satan hath his snares to entrapus and in all spirituall things Satan hath his snares to catch us All places are full of snares City and Countrey shop and closet Sea and Land and all our mercies are surrounded with snares there are snares about our tables snares about our beds c. yea Satan is so powerful and subâ—il that he will oftentimes make our greatest nearest and dearest mercies to become our greatest snares sometimes hee will make the wife that lies in the bosome to be a snare to a man as Sampsons was and as Jobs was sometimes he will make the child to be a snare as Absolom was and Elies sons were and sometimes he will make the servant to be a snare as Joseph was to his Mistris ah soules Satan is so cunning and artificiall that he can turne your cups into snares and your cloths into snares and your houses into snares and your gardens into snares all your recreations into snares c. And oh how should the consideration of these things work all your souls to say with the Church Make hast my Cant. 8. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Berahh dodi flee away speedily my beloved beloved and be like to a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountaines of spices and to love and look and long for the coming of Christ shall the espoused Maid long for the marriage day the servant for his freedome the captive for his ransome the Traveller for his Inne the Phil. 1 23. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 4 Mariner for his Harbour and shall not the people of the Lord long much more to be in the bosome of Christ there being nothing below the bosome of Christ that is not surrounded with Satans snares What Paul once spake of bonds and Acts 20. 23. afflictions that they attended him in every place that may all the Saints say of Satans snares that they attend them in every place which should cause them to cry out migremus hinc migrâ—mus hinc let us goe hence let us goe hence and to say with Monica Austins mother * Quid hic faciemus cur non ocyus migramus cur non hinc avolamus what do we here why depart we not hence why flie wee no swifter Ah soules till you are taken up into the bosom of Christ your comforts will not be ful pure and constant till then Satan will still be tempting you and spreading snares to entangle you therefore you should alwayes bee crying out with the Church Come Lord Rev. 22. 20. It is as easie to compass the Heavens with a span and contain the Sea in a nut-shel as to relate fully Christs excellencies or heavens happinesse Jesus Is not Christ that star of Jacob that giveth light to them that are in darkenesse that Prince of Peace who brings the Olive-branch of Peace to souls that are perplexed Is not the greatest worth and wealth in him Is not all the petty excellencies and perfections of all created creatures epitomized in him Is not he the Crown of Crowns the glory of glories and the Heaven of Heavens Oh then be still a longing after a full cleare and constant enjoyment of Christ in Heaven for till then Satan will still have plots and designes upon you he acts by an untired power and will never let you rest till you are taken up to an everlasting rest in the bosome of Christ An Appendix touching five more severall Devices that Satan hath to keep poor soules from believing in
in Christ surely none Ah sinners you should reason thus Christ hath bestowed the choisest mercies the greatest favours the highest dignities the sweetest priviledges upon unworthy sinners and therefore O our souls doe not you faint do not you despair but patiently and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord who can tell but that free grace and mercy may shine forth upon us though we are unworthy and give us a portion among those Worthies that are now triumphing in Heaven The third Remedie against this Device 3 Remedie of Satans is that if the soule will keep off from Christ till it be worthy it wil never close with Christ it will never embrace Christ 't will never be one with Christ it must lie down in everlasting Isa 50. ult sorrow God hath laid up all worthinesse in Christ that the creature may know where to finde it and may make out after it There is no way on earth to make unworthy soules worthy but by believing in Christ Believing in Christ of slaves 't will make 〈◊〉 1. 12. you worthy sons of enemies 't will James 2. 23. make you worthy friends c. God wil count none worthy nor call none worthy nor carry it towards none as worthy but Believers who are made Reuel 3. 4. worthy by the worthinesse of Christs person righteousnesse satisfaction and intercession c. The fourth and last Remedie against 4 Remedie this Device of Satans is solemnly to consider that if you make a diligent search into your own hearts you shall find that 't is the pride folly of your own hearts that puts you upon bringing of a worthinesse to Christ Oh you would faine bring something to Christ that might render you acceptable to him you are loft to come empty handed The Lord cries out Ho Isa 55. 1 2. every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and he that hath no money come yee buy and eate come buy wine and milke without money and without price Wherefore doe you spend your money upon Verse 2. that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Here the Lord calls upon money lesse soules upon penni-lesse soules upon unworthy soules to come and partake of his precious favours freely but sinners are proud and foolish and because they have no money no worthiness to bring they 'l not come though he sweetly invites them Ah sinners what is more just then that you should perish for ever that preferre huskes among swine before the milke and wine the sweet and precious things of the Gospel that are freely and sweetly offered to you c. Well sinners remember this 't is not so much the sense of thy unworthinesse as thy pride that keeps thee off from a blessed closing with the Lord Jesus The third Device that Satan hath to keep poor sinners from believing in Christ from closing with Christ from resting on Christ c. is BY suggesting to them the want of 3 Device such and such preparations and qualifications saith Satan thou art not prepared to entertain Christ thou art not thus and thus humbled and justified thou art not heart-sick of sin thou hast not been under horrors and terrours as such and such thou must stay till thou art prepared and quâ—lified to receive the Lord Jesus c. Now the remedies against this Device of Satan are these that follow THe first Remedie against this Device 1 Remedy of Satan is seriously to consider that such as have not been so and so prepared and qualified as Satan suggests have received Christ believed in Christ and being saved by Christ Mathew Mat. 9. 9. was called sitting at the receipt of custome and there was such power went along with Christs call that made him to follow We read not of any horrors or terrours c. that hee was under before his being called by Christ Pray what preparations and qualifications were found in Zacheus Paul the Luke 19. 9. Acts 16. chap. Jaylor and Lydia before their conversion God brings in some by the sweet and still voyce of the Gospel and usually such that are thus brought in to Christ are the sweetest humblest 〈◊〉 isest and fruitfullest Christians God is a free agent to worke by Law or Gospel by smiles or frownes by presenting hell or heaven to sinners soules God thunders from Mount-Sinai upon some souls conquers them by thundering God speaks to others in a still voyce and by that conquers them You that are brought to Christ by the Law do not you judge and condemn them that are brought to Christ by the Rom. 14. Gospell and you that are brought to Christ by the Gospel do not you despise those that are brought to Christ by the Law Some are brought to Christ by fire storms and tempests others by more easie and gentle gales of the Spirit The Spirit is free in the works of Iohn 3. 8. conversion and as the wind it blows when where how it pleases Thrice happy are those souls that are brought to Christ whether it be in a winters night or in a summers day The second Remedie against this Device 2 Remedie of Satan is solemnly to dwel upon these following Scriptures which do clearly evidence that poor sinners which are not so and so prepared and qualified to meet with Christ to receive and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ may notwithstanding that believe in Christ and rest and lean upon him for happinesse and blessednesse according to the Gospel Read the first of the Proverbs from vers 20. to the end and the 11. first verses of the 8. of the Proverbs and the six first verses of the 9. of the Proverbs and the 14. first verses of Ezek. chap. 16. and the 3. of John 14 15 16 17 18. 36. verses and the 3. of the Revelations vers 15 16 17 18 19 20. Here the Lord Jesus Christ stands knocking at the Laodiceans door he would faine have them to sup with him and that he might sup with them that is that they might have intimate communion and fellowship one with another Now pray tell me what preparations or qualifications had these Laodiceans to entertain Christ surely none for they were luke-warm they were neither cold nor hot they were wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked and yet Christ to shew his free grace and his condescending love invites the very worst of sinners to open to him though they were no wayes so or so prepared or qualified to entertain him c. The third Remedie against this Device 3 Remedie of Satan is seriously to consider that the Lord does not in all the Scripture require such and such preparations Rom. 4. 5. God justifies the ungodly qualifications before men come to Christ before they believe in Christ or entertaine or embrace the Lord Jesus Christ Believing believing in Christ is the great thing that God presses upon sinners throughout the Scripture as all know that know any thing of Scripture Obj. But does not