Kind or Sex neither a weak Worm or a weak Woman but a Man one of the stronger Sex and not of the weaker 2. By his Quality a strong Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that can do all things Phil. 4.13 where the word is used Ben Chaiil Heb. a Man of Valour so strong that he is able to Trudge over all the World in his Travels notwithstanding his long continuance in this round walk he walk'd it in Job's days Job 1.7 2.2 as he says of himself when God summons him in to appear before him as in his High Court of Justice and he held on the same walking round about without weariness even in Peter's days 1 Pet. 5.8 the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Peripatetick as before yea and he holds up still in the same walk and work even in our days for who among us cannot experience that a busie Devil and a base Heart do not daily meet together to work us Woe in our Way to Heaven This he still is able to do on Earth tho' he was hurl'd out of Heaven as Jude verse 6. now almost six thousand years ago yea and he will carry on the same Cursed Course even to the end of the Old World until our Lord come to lay hold upon this Old Dragon and bind him for a thousand years and so shut him up and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more till the 1000 years be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season Rev. 20.3 We read indeed of a sort of Philosophers that are call'd Peripateticks which signifies Round Walkers but none like this strong Trudgover who hath not only out-lasted and out-lived but also as it may be fear'd hath finally deceived all those Pagan Peripateticks c. 3. He is described by his Qualifications he is not only thus qualified as a strong Traveller but also as a strong Warriour therefore he is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Armed and not barely so for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in composition signifies Valdè or Validè compleatly Armed such are his Accoutrements and Habiliments of War that he is Armed Cap-a-pee as the phrase is a Capite ad Calcem from Head to Foot so that he is as Achilles was said to be in all parts impenetrable and not only so but as he is a Spirit he is impassive also as to man for 't is neither man's Words nor man's Blows that can wound this Spiritual Adversary who is hereupon found to be the more mortal an Enemy to man's Soul and Salvation Of this point I have spoke in the beginning of this Chapter If it be farther enquired how this strong Adversary is armed To this I answer in general He is verily a Goliah an Achitophel and a Doeg all in one together more particularly 1. He is Armed with an Arm of Strength as Goliah was so it may be said to the best of men what Saul said to David 1 Sam. 17.33 thou art not able to fight with this Philistin for thou art but a Stripling and he a Man of War from his Youth as Amnon was too strong for Tamar and so Ravished her c. 2 Sam. 13.12,13 And as the Betrothed Damsel could not stand before a man that rose up against her in the Field Deut. 22.26,27,28 Even so is this matter no man not the best of men who are but men at the best as before can be able to match this matchless Goliah no more than the silly Dove without Heart or Grace as Ephraim is called Hos 7.11 can match the strong Eagle or the simple Lamb the fierce Lion c. no more can any man who is but a poor worm Psal 22.6 make any effectual Resistance against this Prince Fowl of the Air Ephes 2.2 or against this Roaring Lion who hath still his concreated Strength of an Angel Zech. 12.8 for tho' he lost by his fall in his Morals yet not in his Naturals he is so strong still saith Luther that he is able to destroy the whole World in the space of one hour if the Lord would but permit him to lay forth his Angelical or rather Diabolical Strength to the utmost for such an end This strong man hath conquered all Persons yea even Adam Samson and Solomon as before and all People all Nations and Languages he hath with Saul slain his thousands and with David his ten thousands yea and with the Harlot Prov. 7.26 hath cast down and wounded both the many and the mighty He is the Master of Harlots as Rome is called the Mother of Harlots Rev. 17.5 Nor do we find in any Age of the World that any meer Mortal Man was ever able to match him at all times by any strength of his own none but that God-Man Jesus Christ was ever able to stand before him yet is it worth our observation Oh! what a prevailing Power had this strong man by Divine Permssion even over the pure sinless Body of our Saviour himself first in driving it into the Wilderness Mark 1.12,13 then in hugging it up to the top of the Pinacle of the Temple Matt. 4.5 and then in carrying it up likewise unto the top of an exceeding high Mountain Matt. 4.8 wherein this strong man did far out-do Goliah who could not do so to David's Body Nevertheless Christ became the stronger man as he is called Luk. 11.22 and did conquer him compleatly in all his three Temptations 2. As Satan is a Goliah for Strength and Power so he is an Achitophel for Craft and Policy he can over-wit us as well as over-power us 'T is said now the Serpent was more subtle than all the Beasts of the Field Gen. 3.1 So that old Serpent the Devil as he is called Rev. 12.9 and 20.2 is more crafty than all Mortals in the World this must needs be because the Wit of the Angelical Nature doth vastly transcend the Wit of the best Humane Nature Insomuch as his Wit is not so clogged and clouded with fleshly impediments which oft make the Mind of man to become a dim dark and confused Chaos by imprisoning the Truth and detaining it in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 that is the knowledge of Truth sometimes is as it were so locked up under restraint that our Consciences which are as a Prophet to the soul of man may not trouble us in our secure sinning against the Lord whereas the Wit and Understanding of Satan may be called Spiritual as he is a Spirit and not fettered with Flesh as we are therefore acts more freely and without disturbance so is more quick and piercing whereby he can more easily feel the Pulses of mankind and fit them all a suitable Temptation unto every Person 's Natural Temper he well knew what an Apple would do to Eve what a Grape would do to Noah what a Wedge of Gold would do to Achan what a Talent of Silver would do to Gehazi and many more such instances might be
Rebellion against his Maker And 2 dly When our Lord had cast Satan out of Heaven he afterward did oft meet with him upon Earth yea even personally and proved stronger than he putting him to the foil at every turn For thus we are told how our Saviour did encounter Satan first in a barren Wilderness in his first Temptation and then upon a Pinacle of the Temple in the second and after this upon an exceeding High Mountain in his third Conflict yet our Lord Christ came off a Conqueror in all those three Combates so immediately succeeding one another as they are related by the Evangelists Some may say here by way of enquiry how could Satan become so bold and daring as to grapple with the same Antagonist upon Earth whom he had found too strong for him in Heaven c The Answer to it is this That our Lord now appeared as a meer Man and therefore all the Tempters assaults ran Thus if thou be the Son of God c. now Satan had found himself not only a Match but also an Over-match for the first Adam and therefore he thought that he was strong enough to grapple with the strongest of Adam's Off-spring especially considering how he had long before this been able to master strong Sampson c. which might make him hope of prevailing against our Saviour who now appear'd only in the Form of a Servant Phil. 2.6,7 and having his Visage marred more than any Mans Isa 52.14 and 53.2,3 Insomuch that the taunting Jews took him to be about Fifty years old when he was not yet little more than Thirty Joh. 8.57 Hereupon Satan ventures to assault his Person with three various Weapons to wit the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life hoping that though one of them did fail yet the other might prevail and the rather because he had found all these wicked Weapons so successful altogether against our First Parents concerning whom we are told how this same Tempter made them long for the forbidden Fruit there was Lust of the Flesh and he captivated and bewitched their Sight with the Beauty and Loveliness of the Apple there was Lust of the Eyes and lastly he perswaded them that their eating thereof would wonderfully Metamorphose and Change them from their present Humane into a Divine Nature saying Ye shall be as Gods c. there was the Pride of Life Accordingly Satan improveth to his utmost this self same Method against our Blessed Saviour the Second Adam for first he tempts him with turning Stones into Bread when he was very Hungry after a forty Days fast there was Lust of the Flesh though Christ could and would have done it at God's command yet he abhors to do it at the Devil 's bidding as all Satan's Slaves do who win their Bread by Cheating Oppression c. Satan's second Assault against our Saviour was concerning Lust of the Eyes when he shewed a Map of all the glittering Glories of this Evil World to our Saviour's sight saying to him Haec omnia tibi Dabo All these will I give thee Our Lord look'd upon them as indeed they were meet Shews and Shadows and just nothing no more than bare Apparitions and Resemblances of Worldly Glory which is expressed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 24.23 All Agrippa's Pomp was but a meer Phancy Though all these Glories were no more than sorry Schemes or Mathematical Figures without any Solidity or Substance to affect our Saviour's sight yet he tells us himself how his Spouse did ravish his Heart with the Beauty of one Saving Grace Cant. 4.9 Our Lord valued this Image of God more than that offer of Satan to him to make him the Great Pope as some do Interpret that place Luke 4. ver 5 6 7. Now when our Saviour had put Satan to the foil in this Second Assault as the Evangelist Luke doth rank them in his Sacred Record Luke 4. After this the Tempter takes Christ up again and sets him upon a Pinacle of the Temple c. Ver. 9 10 11 12. and tempts him to fly in the Air as Simon Magus was said to do c. and then would he act like the Son of God indeed and appear to be so unto others also and he promiseth to him that the Angels would protect and preserve him from harm in that presumptious Action c. This was the Devil's thrust at our Dear Redeemer though this Master-fly Beelzebub had been beaten off once and again yet returns he the third time to the same place and like Potiphar's Wife to Joseph will be impoâ—…unate and impudent notwithstanding all former flat denials he sets upon and sâ—…es our Saviour here unto that Sin 〈◊〉 â—…ide of Life but being vanquish'd 〈◊〉 Christ this third time also he at our 〈◊〉 Rebuke and Command to depart 〈◊〉 vanished away and Angels came to him to comfort him with Food c. Then 3 dly When 〈◊〉 had conquered Satan in his own Peâ— both in Heaven and on Earth he com◠〈◊〉 as Man's Champion and as the C◠〈◊〉 our Salvation Heb. 2.10 ev◠〈◊〉 Corporal Presence to Conquer hi◠〈◊〉 Cast him forth out of others who◠〈◊〉 met any that were distressed by 〈…〉 c. It is said indeed that S◠〈…〉 from our Saviour who h◠〈◊〉 him thrice in his own Perfor◠〈◊〉 only for a season Luke 4 â—… shewing how restless this Tempter is â—…th with Christ himself and with all Christians after one Assault or two or three be over we must expect he will still renew his Assaults and Batteries upon us and therefore in a Calm we ought always to provide well for a Storm Thus our Lord met the Devil again at many times and in many places having taken possession of many Demoniacks while he was here present upon Earth and where-ever Christ met him he did evermore Dispossess him as Matth. 8.29,30,31,32 and Mark 5.4,5,6,9 And many more Instances might be added to declare it but this one may suffice shewing how a whole Legion of Strong Devils which by common Computation amounteth to the number of Six thousand armed Soldiers all do jointly stoop and truckle to the Command of this one Christ called the Stronger Man Luke 9.27,30,32,33 But 4 thly and Lastly As Christ's Bodily Presence was of such a powerful and victorious Influence over Satan during all the time that he Tabernacled among Men as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 1.14 doth signify no less doth his Gracious and Spiritual Presence with his Church and Children to whom he saith Lo I am with you to the end of the World Matth. 28.27,29 that is I will still charm and chase away Devils from you my Redeemed ones I will not suffer Satan to devour so much as one of my Lambs I will lose none of that number which the Father hath given me John 6.39 and 17.12 I will preserve you from your Adversaries I will prosper you in your Enterprizes I will protect you direct
for Gold as Chrysostom's Thief did say of himself and he is a Pirate at Sea hanging out false Colours to get in with us he seeks not whom to bite out whom to devour 1 Pet. 5.8 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to swallow up at one mouth-full and that no less than our precious and immortal Souls therefore is he called Abaddon Hebr. A bad one indeed or the wicked one and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek Rev. 9.3 both which names signifie a Destroyer He is a broken Bankrupt himself and ordained for Destruction and therefore his whole work is to involve all Mankind in his own Misery accounting it some comfort to have Companions therein Solamen miseris socios adhibere Doloris He hunts not as Nimrod that Cruel Hunter for our moneys houses lands or liberties but for our very lives as the Harlot doth Prov. 7.23 yea to steal away our Souls from God and the Crown of Glory from us he is called in Scripture by such names as are all of a destroying nature as 1. A Draggon Rev. 12.7 2. A Lion 1 Pet. 5.8 3. A Serpent Isa 27.1 4. A Wolf Jobn 10.12 5. A Murderer John 8.44 6. A Tormentor Matth. 18.34 7. A Fowler and Hunter Psal 91.3 8. Beelzebub Mat. 10.25 12.24,27 9. Devil quasi Do evil often and therefore it is no less than a Miracle of Mercy that we are not all of us destroyed by him through his craft and cruelty his power and policy especially considering how he hath the upper ground of us as he is Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 when we are but weak and worthless Worms crawling here below upon the Earth insomuch that his Territories lay betwixt us and Heaven which is our Fathers House therefore was Lazarus's Soul carried by Angels through the Regions of the Air into Abraham's bosom Luke 16.22 Beside it ought to be considered with seriousness how Satan our Adversary as it signifies proved too hard for the Innocentest Man Adam too hard for the Strongest Man Samson and too hard for the Wisest Man Solomon If he could over-master all these Three who were green Trees what can we dry Trees expect Luke 23.31 If this Strong Man yea and Armed too even with Armour of proof Luke 11.21 became a Conquerour over Adam in his state of Innocency how much more may he more easily master the best of us Si hoc Adamo in Paradiso contigisset quid nobis in sterquibunt saith Bernard If this foul fall befell Adam in the Garden of Eden oh what may befall us who are now cast out of Paradise upon the dirty Dunghill of this present evil World Gal. 1.4 It may be said of the best of us as it was said of young Troilus's grappling with great Achilles There was Impar congressus a very unfit and an unequal match betwixt them Yea so bold and daring is this Devil that he dared to Assault the Second Adam as he had done before the First Adam hoping for the same success Even the Son of God himself who only could indeed over-match him not only for himself but more especially for all his Redeemed Moreover Satan is a Restless Adversary out of his unspeakable hatred against God and all goodness as it is said of the Scorpion there is not one minute of Time wherein he doth not thrust out his Sting but keeps it in a continual and speedy motion of poisoning and destroying whatever he can reach even so and much more that Old Serpent will watch night and day to sting our Souls worse than the Fiery Serpents did the Bodies of Israel Numb 21. Consider also how Satan is an Ubiquitary Adversary his Circuit he walks is the whole Earth Job 1.7 2.2 he is call'd the God of this World 2. Cor. 4.4 which lays in wickedness 1 John 5.19 As the True God in the beginning did but speak the word by his Creating Power and every Creature in the whole Creation was perfectly wrought so if Satan do but hold up his finger or give but the least whisper to his Vassals they are at his beck and obedience he leads them captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 Yea and this he doth all over the World no Land or Island is free from him but the whole Universe may be called as one part of it is Terra Diaboli the Devil's Land he is the Ruler of the Darkness of this World Eph. 6.12 He is a God in this sense because there is no fleeing from his presence c. as Psa 139.7,8,9 our base hearts and a busie Devil will meet in all Lands Add likewise to the abovesaid how He is an Everlasting Adversary both 1. In respect of the great World He began betimes with the first Man and Woman in the World and he hath continued ever since to this present time and he will continue even to the end until our Lord lays hold on him and chain him up for a 1000 years Rev. 20. And 2. In respect of the little World Man who is as an Epitome of the great World c. Satan begins betimes even at our very Conception for as the Serpent was more subtle than all the Beasts of tbe Field Gen. 3.1 so Satan's subtlety was most manifest in this matter that when his Luciferian Pride had metamorphos'd him from a glorious Angel as he was created into a damned Devil and therefore was cast out of Heaven into Hell and understanding how God designed to fill up that Habitation which he had left with his Angels Jude verse 6. by a Remnant Redeemed out of Mankind Hereupon he is said to be come down or rather cast down having great Wrath and Malice against Mankind Rev. 12.12 hating Man's Redeemer with a perfect hatred and sinning that unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost every moment c. and that his Cruelty to us is managed with the profoundest Craft and Policy as is apparent in this that he stayed not to pour his poison into every Vessel as it was brought forth into the World but he pours it into the Fountain or Spring head of Mankind well knowing that in poisoning our first Parents he likewise poisoned all their Posterity in all succeeding Ages to the end of the World Thus saith the Apostle by one Man Sin entred into the World Rom. 5.12 and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all Men for that all have sinned and v. 14. Death hath Reigned from Adam to Moses and so down to us in our day c. even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression So that Infants are no Innocents being born with Original Sin the first Sheet wherein they are wrapped is woven of sin shame blood and filth Ezek. 16.4,6 c. They are said to sin as they were in the loins of Adam sust as Levi is said to pay Tithes to Melchisedech even in the loins of his Fore-father Abraham Heb. 7.9,10 otherwise Infants would not die for
c. and the Spouse was sensible of this danger when she so earnestly prayed Awake O North-wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow forth Cant. 4.16 Never did the ground stand in more need of the sweet Influences of the Pleiades Joh 38.31 or Garden of April showers to bring forth May flowers c. than our Hearts and our Habits of Grace do of the Spirit 's Influence to come down upon us like Dew upon the mown Grass and like Showers that water the Earth Psal 72.6 'T is said the Spirit of God did move upon the face of the first deformed Chaos and Gen. 1.2 and thereby brought forth gradually a Beautiful World So no better are our Hearts and Habits until the Spirit descends as a Dove upon us and give more grace James 4.6 Thirdly Our Lord stengthens us for bearing Affliction which every good Soldier of Jesus Christ ought to do 2 Tim. 2.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 endure all evils Now this cannot be done but by vertue of having fellowship with Christ in his sufferings Phil. 3.10 and where there is not first an Union there cannot be any Communion or fellowship we must first be united to Christ as to our Head and then he communicates ability to his Members even to trust in a killing God as Job did c. 13.15 because Christ bears up the heavier end of the Cross as is shewed in that Resemblance of Simon 's bearing the Cross after Jesus Luke 23.26 The heavier end of the Cross lay upon Christ's own shoulders So Simon in his fellowship with his Saviour in his sufferings did but carry the small lighter end of the Cross after him Thus our Lord doth more than line our Crosses for us to make them softer and less galling to our tender Tempers but he hath taken away the Curse of every Cross and hath made them more Medicinal than Paenal so that we may now read Divine Faithfulness in them as David did Psal 119.71,75 'T is a filling up Christ's Afflictions Col. 1.24 A Chip of Christ's Cross doth dulcifie the bitter Waters as that Tree did Marah Exod. 15.25,26 That Glukuzar or Liquorice Tree might be a Type of the Cross whereon Christ was Crucified And we find upon Record how the sweet presence of Christ with the Three Nobles of Israel's Captives in Babylon did even sweeten to them those Bitter Flames in the Furnace of Fire as before Dan. 3.25,28 Fourthly Christ the strong Redeemer causeth his Redeemed Ones to be Conquerours also in Resisting Temptations for he having before hand broken the Serpent's Head Gen. 3.15 doth only leave Tail-Temptations for the exercise of their Graces and not for the destruction of their Souls He hath engaged his own Holiness and Fidelity for assuring us of this great Truth in that truly Golden Promise 1 Cor. 10.13 where he saith That we shall not be tempted above what we are able for he is faithful and he will make a way to escape tho' we cannot make any such way for our own Deliverance and that none such Tryals shall come upon us but what are common and incident to God's dearest Children He will not lead us into any untrodden paths but only into such ways wherein the great Friends and Favourites of Heaven have gone before us whose footsteps we are commanded to follow Cant. 1.8 and Heb. 6.12 Yea and he hath assured praying Souls that his Grace shall be sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12.7,8 and that he will Rebuke Satan that Resists us Zech. 3.1,2,3 c. which he can easily do as having him in a Chain and 't is but taking up a Link or two thereof then our Souls are safe c. Fifthly He makes them Conquerours in mortifying Corruptions from which none even those of the highest Form are not exempted Elijah Paul and Barnabas were subject to the like passions with others Acts 14.15 and James 5.17 The best of Men are but Men at the best Therefore it is as great an act of miraculous Power to keep our little spark of Grace alive in the midst of such a vast Sea of Corruption as it would be to keep a Coal-fire burning upon the surface of the Main Ocean Our Graces like the Army of Israel are very small when our corruptions like the Syrians are so numerous as to fill the whole Country of the Isle of Man 1 Kings 20.27 therefore is it said that the Righteous are scarcely saved 1 Pet. 4.18 that is they have much ado and meet with many difficulties before they can reach to Heaven and Solomon saith He that trusts his own heart is a fool Prov. 28.26 Notwithstanding all this tho' our corruptions have Iron Charets and be too strong for us yet are they not too strong for this stronger Man Josh 17.16,18 and Judg. 1.19 We must say with John Baptist He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mighty or stronger than I Mat. 3.11 And what Anakims or Gyant-like corruptions were ever able to stand before his Mortifying Spirit Rom. 8.13 his Promise he will subdue our Iniquities Mich. 7.19 where the Hebrew word Chabash doth not signifie simply to subdue but vi violentia subjugabit conculcabit that is Jikbosh Gnavonthenu Hebr. he will tread our Corruptions down by force and violence and will perform with his hand what his mouth hath spoken He will do what he hath said 2 Sam. 7.25 1 Kings 8.15 And which is more than all this God sometimes doth give pardoning Mercy where he hath denyed prevailing Grace as this latter hath been withdrawn to humble the Saints so the former is granted to comfort them as in that double case of David and Peter but then there must be some proportion betwixt sinning and sorrowing Manasseh had greatly sinned and was as greatly humbled Oh! let all bless the Lord for this that sin hath not Dominion over us Rom. 6.14 It may play the Tyrant but never Rex or chosen King it may come as a Traveller as 2 Sam. 12.4 but it cannot be an Home-dweller or Master of the House in any truly gracious Heart c. Sixthly The next Case of Difficulty wherein the Redeemer assists the Redeemed to become Conquerors also is in maintaining their Communion with God Alas how heavy are our Hearts Leve sursum grave deorsum heavy things hang downward as light things press upward which our Hearts cannot do having the Stone in them the Spouse was sensible hereof when she prayed draw me and we shall run after thee Cant. 1.3 Anselm's Bird with a Stone tied to its foot is a lively Representation of this Case no sooner did the Bird essay to mount up toward Heaven but the Stone at her foot did presently pluck her down to the Earth It may well be said Oh how weak are our Hearts Ezek. 16.30 Christ saith to his Disciples Can ye not watch with me one Hour the Spirit indeed is willing but the Flesh is weak Matth. 26.41 As if our Lord had said with the
us that we are a seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61.9 and our Light should so shine before Men so c. as that they may see our good works and Glorify our Heavenly father Mat. 5 16. We ought to shine as Lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation Phil. 2 15. so as not only to stop the mouths of gainsayers from Reproaching us 1 Pet. 3.16 but also to force their Mouths open in commending our comly Conversation in Christ The second Denomination of this mystical Armour is the Armour of Righteousness which we are to put on us for our Defence both upon our right Hand and upon our left 2 Cor. 6.7 'T is so called there 1 st Because by the Blessed benefit hereof we are kept and confirmed in the way of Righteousness and true Holiness Prov. 16.31 Eph. 4.24 And 2 dly Because Satan doth batter us both upon our Right hand and upon our Left on purpose to drive us out of the good old and middle way into the Extremes upon either hand for this is the Tempter's wily Method at the first to assault us with his Flatteries and Allurements and when he finds himself baffled herein by this Impenetrable Armor then his second Assault is more furious with his Frowns and Affrightments this was the Tempter's way of Tempting famous Luther whom the Devil's Patriarch the Pope first enticed with great promises of preferring him to a Cardinals Cap c. if he would turn Papist c. but when this great promise c. could not fasten upon him then the Pope turned his Tone and Tune and sent forth his Thundring Bull and dreadfully threatned to fall upon him foully with fire and sword if he persisted in his obstinacy c. But brave Luther being fortified with this Armour of Righteousness on his Right hand and Left returns this Answer Contemptus ad me Romanus favor furor that is I do cordially scorn both the favour and fury of that Romish Beast c. Yea and the same Heroick Soul saith farther Valdè protestatus sum me nolle sic a Deo satiari that is I have solemnly protested that my God shall not put me off with such low things as those are which the Mock-Vicar of Christ doth now tempt me with But the Third Denomination hereof it is called the Armour of God Ephes 6.10,11,12 that we may be made strong in the Lord and in the power of his might we are commanded to put on the Armour of God It hath this name upon it First Because God who is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 11.10 signifying a most curious Artificer is the framer of them as well as of the Worlds and of that City Celestial and without Foundations What was said of Moses's Tables of Stone wherein the Decalogue was written that All was the Workmanship of God Exod. 32.16 The same may be said of this Spiritual Armour All the Furniture and Armory of Evangelical Graces wherewith we are defended from all our Spiritual Enemies as they are called the Gifts of God Eph. 2.8 so they are truly the Workmanship of God whereby we are said to be created in Christ c. verse 10. and become partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 And Secondly We are bid to put this Armour of God upon us because we have a most Dangerous Devil to deal with who is compleatly Armed to Do Evil to us according to the Descant upon his name Devil quasi Do-Evil yea and he can do evil to us eminus that is at distance with his Fiery Darts afar off Eph. 6.16 as well as cominus that is hand to hand by his Buffetings that the Messenger of Satan is said to give the blessed Apostle as it were face to face 2 Cor. 12.6,7 c. which plainly demonstrates that the Devil â—s got near at hand to us and now doth grapple with us as a Wrestler who takes â—old of the Arms of him with whom he wrestles and thus 't is said We wrestle â—ot with flesh and blood but with principaâ—…ties and powers c. Eph. 6.12 so that he doth evil to us not only at a distance as he is Prince of the power of the Air and so hath the upper ground of us poor Worms crawling upon the Earth from whence he throws his fiery Darts at us as Saul did his Javelin several times at David c. but also near hand for Job by Divine permission was within Satan's Touch Job 1.11 2.5 where Satan begs leave of the Lord to let him touch Job's person as well as his goods and children with some of his pernicious Touches but tho' we be within the Tempter's Touchings in his walking to and fro seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 yet blessed be the Lord for his Divine Grace that this wicked one cannot Touch such as are born of God with any of his Deadly Touches 1 John 5.18,19 However is most highly concerns us that we be noâ— found of him naked and unarmed Alas how easily did Cain prevail against Abeâ— whom he found in the Field unprepare for Resistance c and how easily diâ— Simeon and Levi those two Brethren iâ— Iniquity prevail against Shechem and hiâ— Citizens whom they surprized at uâ— awares and altogether unable to defenâ— themselves being still very sore witâ— their Circumcision Gen. 34.25 Solomoâ— saith Poverty shall come upon Idle onâ— like an Armed Man Hebr. A Man of Shields Prov. 6.11 that is it comes with so much force and violence as it cannot be either avoided or averted c. Now if so much be said of such a thing as Poverty or Want how much more may be affirmed of such a person as this Prince of Devils and Darkness and the God of this World Matth. 12.24 and 2 Cor. 4.4 who is such a Mark 's man as can sling his Stones of Temptation even to an hair's-breadth and not miss as Judg. 20.16 yea and can shoot his Arrows with so much accuracy and exactness as to wound us between the Joynts of our Harness as as Ahab was 1 Kings 22.34 And if so then much more when he surprizeth us either Napping or Naked or both Therefore our Lord makes an open proclamation What I say unto you I say unto all watch that none be found sleeping Mark 13.36,37 And the Apostle Peter publisheth by sounding of his Trumpet and crying Arm Arm Arm your selves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 4.1 in general to all This brings us to the third particular to wit we must not only Arm our selves and put on the Armour of Light and of Righteousness but we must put on the whole Armour of God as they are distinctly described in order one after another Eph. 6.11 to 19. where the Apostle having before appointed all sorts of Christians their Ranks in all their respective Relations and had declared to them their Relative Duties in their several Respects then he pursues his Divine Documents how they
us c. It followeth then that the Duty of Resisting must likewise be done as an additional Duty unto Watching and Praying and we must spend our whole lives in the work of watching praying and resisting to our dying day c. Upon those few following Considerations over and above the Arguments before-mentioned As 1 st Consider well that the Devil is like the Crocodile of whom Pliny relateth that if men pursue him he will flee from them but if men flee from him he will then pursue after them c. 2 ly Consider there is indeed a playing upon the hole of the Asp and a putting the hand upon the Cockatrice Den which Christ hath promised he will secure little Children from the danger thereof Isa 11.8 when he comes to create the new Heavens and the new earth wherein shall dwell all righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 But we may not do so now for if we dally with the Devil in leading our selves into Places and Companies of Temptation whereas we pray that the Lord may not lead us into Temptation in the Lord's Prayer this is foolish presumption and a plain tempting of the Tempter 3 ly Consider what is required of us â—n this Resisting Duty 't is only a strong â—egative resolving in Christ's strength to â—nswer the Tempter with an holy and peâ—emptory No No I may not I cannot I â—are not do it to give Satan a flat deâ—ial is no difficult Duty and 't is not resisting unto blood Heb. 12.4 4 ly Consider if we resist not but â—ield contrary to that Apostolical command yield not your Members as weapons of wickedness unto sin as the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Rom. 6.13,14,19 â—hen are we taken Captives by Satan and â—ed about by him as his Slaves at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 and not taken to be preserved alive as before but to be destroyed c. 2 Pet. 2.12 Oh woful condition c. 5 ly Consider that he who now tempts us to sin will accuse us afterward for that sin as elsewhere yea and those very Snares of Sin wherewith Satan at present doth entangle us will at the last become Chains of Darkness in Hell c. 6 ly Consider this striving against sin Heb. 12.4 must be constant and last so long as life doth last we should resist wholly with this whole Armour of God because when we have overcome the prophane Devil a worldly Devil may prevail against us Or if we have been madâ— able to master a Swearing Devil then 〈◊〉 Lying Devil may prove too hard for us and if we can conquer all those and manâ— more Devils c. After the subduing oâ— all these then may the Devil of Pridâ— rise up and prevail over us for that olâ— saying of Bernard's Tot Daemonia quâ— Crimina so many sins as do reign over us so many Devils do rule in us seeing every such sin hath a Devil in it Now this siâ— of Pride as it is the first that is learnâ— so it is the last that is lest for there is something of Pride even in the besâ— Hearts even good Hezekiah's was lifted up in pride 2 Chron. 32.25,31 7 ly Consider for our Comfort that ouâ— constant conflict against Sin and Satan is a better evidence of true sanctifying and saving grace than any perfection of Holiness that can be found in the most sanctified souls Paul himself who tho' he had been rap'd up into the Third Heavens and into Paradice it self 2 Cor. 12.2,4 yet he after this complaineth of a Thorn in the Flesh a Messenger of Satan to buffet him c. ver 7 8 9. and he saith of himself not as tho' I had already attained or were already perfect but I press after it c. Phil. 3.11,12,13,14 and crys Oh wretched man c. Rom. 7.24 8 ly and lastly Let us consider and better consider for our comfort if we can but know that Christ is in us 2 Cor. 13.5 then Christ in us is stronger for us than this Strong Man Satan can be against us Luke 11.21,22 If our Lord be for us 't is no matter who or what is against us Rom. 8.31 Stronger is he in us than he that is in the World 1 John 4.4 As our Lord hath conquered Satan as before in his own Person so he hath promis'd to do the same in all his sincere Members he will not lose so much as one of them John 6.39 and 17.12 Oh pray pray pray that Christ may strengthen us Phil. 4.13 that we may shake this Viper the Old Serpent from off our Hearts as Paul did the Viper from off his Hands into the fire of Hell Acts 28. ver 4 5 6 c. CHAP. IV. Shewing the way to Compleat a Conquest in God's Armour Advice to Young and Old c. THere be Two Grand Duties that concern all Mankind Male and Female Rich and Poor Young and Old c. which are coupled together in that one Verse 1 Tim. 6.19 to wit 1 st A laying up in store for our selves a good foundation against the time to come And 2 dly A laying hold on Eternal Life First of the 1 st Lay a good Foundation c. This is always look'd upon by Wise Men as a Work of great weight we ought all to be Builders of the Tower of Godliness Luke 14.28 'T is compared to a Tower upon manifold accounts As 1. 'T is an high Building 2. Stately 3. Difficult 4. Exposed to Storms which plain Ground is not obvious unto 5. Costly far beyond Hutts or Cottages c. 6. Godliness hath all the parts of an Aedifice as Foundation Corners and the Roof or Top c. Now this Good Foundation is not either Good Meanings or General Mercy or an External Profession these are all Sandy Matth. 7.24,26 but 't is the Rock Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Acts 4.12 Col. 1.15,17 1 Pet. 1.20 Rev. 13.8 c. Now if we fail in the Foundation which is the first of those two great Duties we can never obtain any solid ground of Hope for the Second of laying hold on Eternal Life which is the Top of that Mystical Tower of which it may be truy said even without any Hyperbole what is said of the Tower of Babel that the Top of it reacheth up into Heaven Gen. 11.4 An Antient Popish Limner or Painter drew Solomon's Picture in this Posture of his being one half in Heaven and the other half in Hell c. Thus the Man that sets one of his Feet upon a Rock but his other Foot upon a Quagmire contiguous to the Rock whereby he Sinketh down with his whole Body into the Dirt c. Thus likewise will it befal us if we make not Christ our All and in All Col. 3.11 but lean partly upon God and partly upon the World if we halt betwixt the Flesh and the Spirit alas we then seem to hang as it were equally poiz'd betwixt our fear of Hell and our hope of Heaven with Sâ—lomon's
Metaphor is Tsaba warfare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. Job 4.1 because man's life is exposed to Pirates as before Now if our life be a warfare 't is well known how Soldiers have their time of fighting and their time of resting according to the Commands of their Captain General They must obey his Order for both falling on and for falling back as he pleaseth stat pro Ratione Voluntas his Will is a Law to them And thus every good Soldier of Jesus Christ as Timothy is called 2 Tim. 2.3 must be willing either to Act or to Rest according to the Commands of the Captain of our Salvation as Christ is called Heb. 2.10 whether private Christian or publick Minister we must all resign up our Wills into his Will as we read in Ecclesiastick History of a famous Minister called Martinus who being by the Lord seized upon with Sickness 't is recorded how he prayed Decumbens dico Domine si adhuc populo tuo sim necessarius laborem tuum non recuso c. that is Lord serve thy self of me for thy Service is sweet to me if thou hast no more Service to command me then O Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit c. This was piously spoken yet Old Simeon as we read Luke 2.29,30 spake better saying Lord now let thou thy Servant depart in peace Now this good Old Man having laid in his Heart what he lapt in his Arms the most blessed Armful that he ever met with even the Beautiful Babe of Bethlehâ—m he then sung the nunc Dimittas so called even his Soul out of his Body saying I fear no Sin I dread no Death I have lived enough I have my Life I have long'd enough I have my Love I have seen enough I have my Light I have served enough I have my satisfaction I have sorrowed enough I have my consolation even the consolation of Israel whom I and other Believers have long waited for ver 25. even the Messiah that Menachem or Comforter mentioned Lam. 1 16. and yet singing farther Oh sweet Babe let this Psalm serve for a Lullaby to thee and for a Funeral for me Oh sleep in my Arms and let me sleep in thy Peace All this sweet Song Simeon concludes with the procuring cause of his Sacred Musick saying for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation This was his great satisfaction that he had accomplished his Service to his Most Honourable Lord and Master who had employ'd him all his Life in most Honourable Work and who he was assured was going to pay him most Honourable Wages seeing he had got his Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his Heart as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his Hand as 't is said of the Blessed Virgin who therefore is said to rejoice Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danced a Gallyard and to magnifie the Lord her Saviour as well as ours Luke 1.47 But far above those two Instances aforesaid to wit Ancient Martinus and the good Old Man Simeon our sinless Saviour saith best of all concerning himself in his last Prayer before his Death saying Mine Hour is now come O Father Glorifie thy Son c. I have Glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work thou gavest me to do and now O Father Glorifie me with thy Self that is my Manhood with the same Glory which my Godhead had before the World was made John 17.1,4,5 c. Our Lord did not did not ask his Wages before his Work was done his Time was now come and he was now Ripe and Ready to be gone into his Fathers Kingdom This holy practice of our precious Redeemer is left upon Record on purpose for our instruction and comfort Rom. 15.4 that it may be a Pattern to avoid that precipitancy which prevailed over those two famous Prophets men of God Elijah and Jonah who both of them in a strong Pang of Passion desired to Die before their Hour of Dying was come and therefore are we told that these great Servants of God were subject to the like Passions as we are Acts 14.15 Jam. 5.17 It is a sinful desire for any who would be gone to Heaven before their Work be done on Earth we must rather say O Father if thou hast any further Service for me to do I am willing to live longer c. the Will of the Lord be done Acts 21.14 Having thus far discoursed upon the first Accident of Old Age after its Nature namely the Quantity or Measure of it which we have observed to be Uncertain and Various either long or short according to the Statute-law of the great Law-giver the Lord of Lords c. who hath appointed all men once to die c. Heb. 9.27 even Methusalem who was the longest liver upon Scripture-record and who came the nearest to be a Thousand Years Old which is reckoned a number of perfection never attained to by any mere man Tho' he lived many Hundred Years even near to a Thousand and begat Sons and Daughters yet he died at the last see my first Volume of the History and Mystery of the Holy Scriptures of Him at large Now I come to the Second Accident of Old Age to wit the Quality or Manner of it which is either Good or Evil. Concerning the first How it is a good Old Age in its own Nature and by God's blessing upon it I have already demonstrated in the foregoing Discourse and I do design to enlarge much more upon that Point when I arrive at the Third Part after its Nature and Accidents to declare the Dues to and the Duties of Aged Ones whereby Old Age may become good indeed Now as touching the latter of these two That Old Age is an Evil Age that Senium Malum convertuntur These two are convertible Terms Solomon the Wise doth sufficiently evince and evidence in his saying Oh Young Ones remember your Creator before Evil Days come and the Years draw nigh wherein you shall say I have no pleasure in them Eccles 12.1 Wherein he begins to describe First The wearisom evils of Old Age from the latter end of ver 1. to the last end of ver 6. Then Secondly Of the evils of Death ver 7. both which he brings in as two strong motives to urge Young ones to be mindful of their Duty For First in the General All Authors both those that be Civil as well as those that be Sacred do unanimously concur in this point That Old Age and Misery are very seldom found separated As 1. Plutarch saith Senectus ut Africa semper aliquid Novi adportat as Affrica is never without some Monster so Old Age is never without some Ailment 2 Cato saith Solet Senectus esse Deformis Infirma Obliviosa Edulenta Lucrosa Indocilis Molesta that is Old Age useth to be Deformed Feeble Forgetful Toothless Covetous Unteachable and Unquiet 3. Horace saith Multa Senem circumveniunt Incommoda Many are the Inconveniencies that do encompass Old Persons
is related by the Holy Ghost and both these were done for the greateâ— Honour of this Lady as Sarah Hebrew signifies who was a Type of the Gospel-Church Gal. 4.22 to 31. and she was the Wife of that greatest of Patriarchs who is called the Father of the Faithful and whose Bosom is the Synonymon with Mansions of Glory Rom. 4.16 Luke 16.22 Yet his mourning for her was moderate and not as without Hope 1 Thes 4.13 Her Death had not made any such divorce from him but there still remained a blessed conjunction betwixt them therefore he calls her his Dead eight several times over in Gen. 23.3 c. to shew he had not lost her nor lost his interest in her and that he had only lent her to the Lord he had only bid her good night in hope to see her Alive again in the Morning of the Resurrection she was only faln asleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.13,14 the Union was not dissolved by Death As this consideration was comfortable to this Good Old Abraham so it was no less a comfort to that Good Prophet Ezekiel when the Lord took from him the Desire of his Eyes Ezek. 24.16 even that sweet Companion of his Life And this may likewise be the Comfort of all Godly Couples and of Friends also when God is pleased to make a separation one from another 't is only for a time and not for ever Our present meetings together in this World are joyned with some short parting 's asunder but our Hope in the Lord is we shall at last meet together again in a better World so as never to part asunder any more for then we shall be with the Lord for ever and for ever wherefore let us comfort one another with these words 1 Thes 4.17,18 Oh blessed Hour Oh thrice happy Union There is but a Sleep for a Time for a Night of Death only as by Sleep the Body is refreshed so by Death the Body is refined Let it be our care to cleave close to Christ at the instant of Death then shall we sleep in Jesus and he will be our Gain both in Life and Death Phil. 1.21,22,23 After this Night of Sleep comes the Day-Break of Eternal Brightness and after this Union here below cometh an Everlasting Communion in Heaven above Those Scripture Comforts should come home to our Hearts therefore ought we to comfort one another with them by Christian Communication and then may they afford us more strong Consolation than all the Comforts of Phylosophy of which Cicero said on his Death-Bed Nescio quo modo imbecillior Medicina quam Morbus est that is I know not how it comes that the Medicine is too weak for my Disease None can say so of those Sripture Cordials which the Lord doth ordinarily water with the Dews of his Divine Blessing The same Cordial did serve to satisfie Job likewise in the loss of his Children looking upon them not as lost but only lent to the Lord who had before but lent them unto him and had called his own only home to himself He still looked on them as his Dead as well as Living they were still his his Dead as Abraham's phrase was so oft of his Dead Wife after they were Dead and Buried How else could it be said that God gave to Job twice as much of every thing as he had before seeing he had but the same number of Children afterwards that he had before to wit Seven Sons and Three Daughters Job 42.10,13 He reckoned there remained still a blessed Union and Conjunction between him and them which was founded upon his hope of an Happy Resurrection In a word learn we to say our Godly Relations are not lost they are only gone before us and we are hastning after them they are only removed out of one Room into another out of the Out-houses and Kitchin of this World into the Presence-Chamber and Palace of Heaven They have changed their Place but not their Company as Good Dr. Preston said upon his Death-bed They are only gathered like Lillies Cant. 6.2 by the Hand of Christ who hath transplanted them into the Paradise of God Our Lord said to the penitent Thief this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice Luke 23.43 NB. Oh Matchless Love in our Dear Redeemer to speak thus lovingly to this poor Penitent while he was in horrible Torture himself upon the Cross and paying so unspeakably dear for Man's sin yet rejected he not this Malefactor's Petition ver 42. How much more may we now hope he will hear our Prayers and answer them with good words and comfortable Zech. 1.13 seeing the Debt is now all paid and the whole work of Redemption is now finished 3 dly Suppose the Third Natural Evil do come upon us to be as Lamps despised and a scorn to Young Scoundrils c. as Job complained before in our Old Age yet is there a blessed Remedy to this wretched Malady namely that pretious Promise commit thy way unto the Lord c. and he shall bring forth thy Righteousness in which way thou must still be found as the Light and thy Judgments as the Noon-day Psal 37.5,6 that is we must in the first place mind the Condition of this Promise to wit of rolling our selves upon the Lord as the Hebrew word signifies and depend wholly upon him both for safety and for success in all our undertakings Kimchi reads it Volue exonera unload thy self by casting thy Burden upon the Lord as David explains it Psal 55.22 that is ease thy Mind to God by Prayer and resign up thy All by Faith unto his care and conduct Trust also in him this is of the same import with Commit but repeated to take better impression and to beget more incouragement then whatsoever we commit to him he will bring it to pass in the general ver 5. Then follows the particular part of this Promise in the Second Place about Slanders ver 6. saying God will so oyl thy good Name which is as pretious Ointment Eccles 7.1 Prov. 15.30 and 22.1 that no defaming Infamy shall stick to it Dirt will stick upon a Mud-wall but it cannot do so upon Marble Suppose we be slandered without Cause as God tells Satan he slandered Job without Cause Job 2.3 with 1.9 and we lie under those Blacknings for a time but consider how the Earth lieth under Darkness all the Night long yet as the Morning by its sudden arising driveth away that Darkness so shall the Lord clear up our wronged Innocency and as the Moon wadeth from under a Cloud and from under an Eclipse by the interposition of the shadow of the Earth betwixt her and the Sun so shall we in God's time get over all our Evils of this kind or of any other if we still be found in the way of Righteousness God will clear up the innocency of his slandered Servants and bring it to light like the Sun at Noon-day but assuredly this will be done