by a further Spirit and power then their own From these and such like things many conclude that their Dreames and visions are of the holy Ghost and therefore they ought to be the Rule and Ground of their Actions Prayers and Performances But if men did minde that which the Apostle prophesied of they would not be too forward to do so For Saint Paul did foreshew that in the latter Time some should depart from the Faith and give heed unto Spirits of Errours and Doctrines of Divils 1 Tim. 4.1 for this is Truth that whatsoever Spirit doth set men upon the doing of those things that are contrary unto the word of God we should not be guided by it Satan is very busie even among the best of the Saints and therefore they cannot be too watchful Wherefore I shall indeavour to try the Spirits that are in the world even the Spirits of Delusion comparing them with the commands of the Spirit of God The Spirit of God saith search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 and compare Spiritual things with Spiritual 1 Cor. 2.13 but the Spirit of delusion saith Judge of Scripture by natural Reason which is the Light that God hath set up in you The Spirit of God saith no Scripture is of any private Interpretation 2. Pet. 1.20 the Spirit of Delusion saith you may make any Interpretation of Scripture either mystical prophetical literal or what you will The Spirit of God saith let every one esteem others better then themselves Phil. 2.3 the Spirit of Delusion saith I am more holy then such an one I am more instant in Duties then such The Spirit of God saith Judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come 1 Cor 4.5 the Spirit of Delusion saith this man is guilty of the Sin against the holy Ghost this man is falne from Grace this man is not to be prayed for this man is a hypocrite The holy Ghost saith blesse and Curse not Rom. 12.14 the Spirit of Delusion saith Curse such an one for he hath persecuted the Saints The Spirit of God Saith Let Prayers be made for all men 1 Tim. 2.1 the Spirit of Delusion saith we may Pray for those who are our Enemies but not for those who are the Enemies of Christ I could try these Spirits in many other Particulars but I will indeavour by the Scriptures to try the Spirits of those who say they Dreame Dreames and see visions of God but are false Dreamers 1. Such Dreamers say they doe Dreame in the Name of the Lord when they prophesie the vision of their owne heart Jer. 23.25 26. 2. By their Dreames they cause the People to forget the Name of the Lord. v. 27. they give more heed unto their Dreames then unto the Word of the Lord 3. These Prophets have sweet Tongues and say Thus saith the Lord and make the People to erre by their Lyes and their flatteries deceiving them v. 31.32 Jer. 29.8 4. They speake vain things and comfort in vain Zach. 10.2 and 5. These false Dreamers cause many to despise Government and speake Evil of them that are in Authority Jude 8. Having thus shewed how we should try the Spirits that are in the world I will declare how these Temptations cunning Practises of Satan may be prevented Therfore In the first place the Apostle doth exhort to Sobrietie Sobrietie doth not onely consist in the moderate use of Meat and drink but in beleeving Loving and trusting in the Lord. He is a sober Christian that continueth stedfast in the Faith that abideth in the commandements and trusteth in the Lord. 1 Thess 5 6 7 8. He is a Sober Christian that is indued with wisdom and Gravitie Tit. 1.8 not given to wantones and Levity He is a Sober Christion that wil not give confidence to the Dreams and delusions of men but doth trust on the Grace that is brought unto him by the Revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 that walketh by the Rule of the Word which was written by the Inspiration of the holy Ghost and Revelation of Jesus Christ He is a Sober Christian who is not carelesse or negligent but vigilant and instant in Prayer 1 Pet. 4 8. He is a Sober Christian that arrogateth not unto himselfe those Gifts which he hath not nor boasteth of those Gifts which he hath Rom. 12.3 He is a Sober Christian who liveth Righteously as towards men and godly as towards the Lord in this present world Tit. 2.12 So that this exhortation of the Apostle is very necessary for that in it is conteyned those Duties which hold forth stability and Constancy in our Resolutions Because that Satan taketh great advantage against those who are unstable minded 2 Pet. 2.14 not endued with Sobrietie Secondly the Apostle doth exhort to vigilancy or Watchfulnesse To watch over our hearts over others over the drawings out of our affections over our Zeale over our Principles over the world and over Satan To watch because the Coming of Christ is uncertain Mat. 24.42 43 44. To watch Rev. 3.3 least Satan take Advantage of our weaknesse in the Faith 1 Cor. 16.13 To watch over our Prayers continually Col. 4.2 To watch in all things 2 Tim. 4.5 And if a Christian ought to watch in all things even in the Least things much more over the malice Rage and Subtilty of Satan Thirdly that the Saints may avoid the Designes of Satan the Apostle exhorteth to prayer Prayer and watchfulnesse must alwayes go together Watch and Pray Mar. 13.33 Be ye Sober watching in Prayer 1 Pet. 4.7 Sober and Stedfast in our resolutions watchful over every enemy and earnest in Prayer to call for divine assistance If Satan doth tempt the Saints when they pray and God doth require that they pray according to his minde and will then it is their duty to try and weigh every Petition which they put up by the Word and not to desire any thing of the Lord but what the word doth allow of for the word is the Revelation of the minde and will of God The holy Ghost doth help the Saints to call for those things onely which are agreeable to the minde and will of God that is to his Word And if their hearts be drawn out to other things they are not to give heed unto the motions of their hearts Also in their Prayers the Saints should have respect not only to those things which God hath promised but to the Times Places and Persons to which they relate Otherwise the Lord may draw out their hearts as to the thing promised but Satan may tempt them to pray amisse as to circumstances A Fourth remedy to prevent the designes of Satan is to hold fast to the Faith resist Satan stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.9 saith the Apostle Peter So likewise St. Paul exhorteth Above all take the shield of Faith wherewith yee may quench the fiery Darts of the wicked Eph. 6.16 He that is Sober will not easily be tempted He that is
A SEASONABLE WORD OF ADVICE Unto all the SAINTS in ENGLAND Whereby they are exhorted to beware of Satans subtilties and hold fast the words of sound Doctrine By J. B. a lover of the Truth LONDON Printed by T. C. and are to be sold by George Wilford in Little-Brittain neere the Lame-hospitall 1655. To all the Saints in England who desire to acquaint themselves with those Scriptures which do discover the secret waies of Satan by which he doth seek to deceive in these last daies Christian friends WHose welfare I heartily desire do not dispise this friendly Exhortation which was written with much Care and Fear Fear least I should write any thing which should not be the Truth of God Feare least I should omit the writing of any Truth Feare least I should grieve the Spirit of any Saint Feare least I should neglect to acquaint the Saints with the Subtilties of Satan The Lord having put it into my heart to consider them In all Ages the Divil hath sought to deceive the Elect 2 Cor 11 1â—.15 And if in the Apostles daies there were deceitful workers who transformed themselves into the Apostles of Christ if Satan transformed himselfe then into an Angel of light and if his Ministers did then transforme themselves as though they were the Ministers of Righteousnesse we may be assured that in these daies and Ends of the World he will leave no way or meanes unattempted by which he may seduce If they who lived in those last times in which the Apostles were 1 Pet. 〈…〉 even they who were kept by the Power of God through Faith unto salvation had their Faith tried do the Saints now think to escape the like Trial assuredly Friends our faith will be tried even that Faith by which we shal be brought unto that Salvation which is prepared to be shew'n in the last Times that we may be found unto Praise and honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 4.1 In the last daies many will depart from the Faith for many will then give heed to Doctrines of Divils and Spirits of Errours And indeed none will stand and continue in those Daies in the Faith but they who have the Anoynting 1 John 8.18 19 20. the holy Spirit of God in them All others will fall under the Deceptions of that antichristian Spirit which then will be found in the world For they who never were really of God will then depart from him If they had been of him they would have continued with him If these be the last Daies If Satan will now endeavour to deceive those who professe the Lord Jesus If it be a difficult thing to discerne in these Times the Subtilties of Satan If he will leave no way unattempted and if his Rage and Malice will increase the nearer the End of his Kingdom will approach then the more Reason have all those that feare God to be circumspect in all things and to provoke one another not onely to attain unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but to observe with diligence the cunning practises of Satan For a good souldier wil not only have respect unto that kingdom he fighteth for and to the Commands of his General but will with all Circumspection prudently watch over every motion of his Enemy And that I may move you hereunto I shall desire all the Saints of God to consider this Exhortation of the Apostle 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober and watch For your Adversary the Divil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour In which Scripture there are two parts 1. A double Exhortation Be sober and watch 2. The Ground or reason thereof which is likewise two-fold the first is exclusive to the Text and is to be found in the fourth verse being drawne from the Saints glorious appearing with their great Shepherd For thus saith the Apostle When your great Shepherd shall appear you shall receive an incorruptible Crown of Glory And then in the fifth verse he exhorteth them to humility in the seventh verse to cast their Care on the Lord and in the eight verse to be Sober and watch The second Reason which moved the Apostle to exhort to Sobriety and vigilancy is included in the verse and is Because their Adversary the Divil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour From the Premises we may safely draw this conclusion that The nearer the time is unto the Appearing of the great Shepherd and the nearer the Kingdom of Satan is to an End the more the Divil will indeavour to ensnare the Saints and manifest his Rage against them First this will appear by what is written in this fift chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Peter where the Apostle from the consideration of the next appearing of Christ and Rage of Satan doth admonish the Elect both the shepherds and the sheepe to Circumspection and Diligence Secondly the Truth of this Doctrine will appeare from that which we finde written by Saint John The Divil is come down unto you and hath great wrath knowing that he hath but a short time Rev. 12.12 for by the Power of Christ who overcame Satan Satan the Accuser of the Brethren who are by him tempted unto sin and by him accused thereof was cast downe v. 10. and his wrath doth increase because he knoweth his time is but short But short in the account of God and in comparison of that eternal weight of Glory which shall be given unto those who overcome his Temptations And if his Rage will increase as his Time will decrease then the Elect who live in the last Daies must expect to be assaulted more fiercely by him then the Saints in former Ages have been But Thirdly The truth hereof is experienced at this Day For although it must be confessed that Satan doth not at this Time move such heavy Persecutions against the Bodies of the Saints as he did in former Ages yet he hath in these daies put on more angelical Formes and shapes to deceive then in any former time These things being considered I will by the Lords assistance declare 1. Two Snares which Satan doth lay in these Times to intrap deceive and delude the Saints 2. Many cunning waits by which he doth attempt this Worke. 3. The End that Satan aimeth at the Advantage he getteth and the Inconveniences the Saints run into when they are deceived And 4. The Remedies which the Lord hath appointed both for the prevention of some that they fall not and the Recovery of others that are falne The first Snare which I shall mention that Satan layeth for those that professe Christianity is To bring them into a wrong understanding of the Scriptures and so in time to wrest and pervert them 2 Pet. 3.16 which he doth First by causing them to hold to the opinions of their Forefathers although they be never so contrary to the Word of God In all Ages men have highly esteemed
Jewes because Evils were in the Land shall we who are Gentiles and live in the time of Satans Kingdome and in mystical Babylon where all evil doth abound and is committed with an high hand look for such appearances certainly we should deceive our selves if we do so For the Lord will give unto his people during the Reign of Satan and while such Iniquities are committed Night for a vision and Darknesse for a Divination the Sun shall go down upon their Prophets and the Day shall be darke over them But for full Satisfaction in this thing that is to know the time wherein the Lord will manifest himself unto his people by Dreames and Visions there is one plain Scripture upon which many others are grounded that will direct us herein We shall finde it in the Prophesie of Joel Joel 21. to 28. where the Lord saith He will do great things for his People then the Children of Israel shall rejoyce in their God He will give them the Raine of Righteousnesse then their Barnes shall be full of wheat and the Presses shall abound with wine and oyle and they shall never be ashamed AFTERWARDS the Lord will powre out his spirit upon all flesh and their Sons and their Daughters shall prophesie and their old men shall DREAME DREAMES and their young men shall see VISIONS So that we are not to looke for the powring out of the Spirit as the Prophet hath foretold nor Revelations by dreames and visions until the Promise be fulfilled to the Jewes and the Saints be delivered out of Babylon When the Lord delivered the Jews into the hands of the King of Babel Jer. 27 9. 28.8 he told them that they should be subject to him Seventy years yet there were some who did promise great things unto them before that time but the Lord said Heare not your Prophets nor your Soothsayers nor your DREAMERS nor your Inchanters nor your Sorcerers which say unto you you shall not serve the King of Babel Let not your Prophets and Soothsayers which are among you deceive you neither give Eare to your Dreames which you Dreame for they Prophesie a Lye in my Name I have not sent them So I may say the people and Sheep of the Lord are now in mystical Babylon where the Lord hath appointed they shall remain and continue in a scattered Condition until their Shepherd come and gather them and whosoever they are that pretend that the Lord hath by DREAMES and visions made known unto them that those things which he hath foreshewn by the Scriptures should not come to passe until the next Coming of Christ shall be accomplished before that time in our Age and Generation they are not to be beleeved For by such means Satan seduceth the world that is he doth reveal unto many by Dreames and visions those things which the Lord by his Prophets hath spoken should come to passe that they who waite for such Promises may the more easily be deceived But this is his Design he deceiveth them in a Circumstance of Time Places and Persons and by such Dreames and visions keepeth them from searching the Scripture that thereby they may acquaint themselves with the Lords Time This worke Satan doth effect by taking Advantage of a Disposition which is in the Saints and which is naturally in all men viz to give Credit and easie beleefe unto any who will promise those things which they desire and would have come to passe And by this meanes Satan deceiveth both the Dreamers and those that give Credit unto them This was not the practice of the Apostle Saint Paul for he spake not as they who Please men 1 Thes 2.4 5. but God Neither did he use flattering words Another Policy of Satan is to reveale by Dreames and visions many things which have and will come to passe For when any can say I had such and such a thing discovered unto me by a Dreame or a vision and I spake of it long before it was fulfilled and afterwards accordingly it came to passe this doth perswade those that hear of such Dreames that all other things which they afterwards Dreame of will undoubtedly come to passe This is a way by which Satan hath wrought in these Times I will instance in one Foster who was reported of by those who very well knew him to be a great Professor a man of able Gifts upon whom it pleased the Lord to let Satan loose and in January 1650. Satan assaulted him thus I am the Lord of Hosts the holy one of Israel I am come unto thee Then many visions were shewed unto him which since came to passe As the dissolving the Parliaments and other things But Satan deceived him as to times and Persons Many times he was cast into Rapturs and Trances during which Time he sang Hallalujahs and Praises prophetically repeating many things which are written in the Scriptures of the coming of Christ and the Destruction of his Enemies The vanities of these and many other his visions Time hath already discovered Therefore we should be wary how we give Credit unto such Spirits although they foreshew such things as do accordingly come to passe The wayes by which Satan doth effect this that is by which he draweth men in this Age to give heed unto Dreams and visions is first by taking men off from the Rule of the Word perswading them or Rather by his cunning Suggestions tempting them to try the Word by the Spirit of these Dreamers but not to try their Spirits by the Rule of the Word Job 1.6 2.1 Secondly by causing them when they Pray to pray amisse For it is certain that the Saints do never solemnly set themselves apart to Pray but Satan is at their Right-hand He is an invisible Enemy and therefore my beloved friends take it not ill if I acquaint you with his Deceivings Nay if the Sons of God do but assemble together he will be among them The Sons of God whether Angels or Saints for both are the Sons of God And Satan will be among them you may be assured not as an Idle Spectator but as an accuser Rev. 12.10 The time of prayer is the time of Satans Temptation especially when the Saints at extraordinary times meet to Pray together We finde it was thus with Jehosua for when he stood before the Angel of the Lord most probably when he prayed to Christ for the Church and the welfare of the Saints Satan stood at his right hand to resist him Zach. 3.1 Thirdly Satan doth seeke to insnare the Saints when he doth indeavour to perswade them to look upon these Dreamers as infallible Guides And thus Satan doth stir them up to Reason with themselves some things they have dreamed which have come to passe which things are declared in the word therefore they are of God they who Dream these Dreames are People that fear God they have eminent Gifts they could not do such things if they were not acted