that the deuill is exceeding subtill to counterfet a truce and make as though hee were our friend and meant vs no harme only to make vs secure and heedlesse of what wee haue to doe for ease slaieth the foolish Prou. 1.32 See the straragem of the Danites against carelesse Laish in Iudg. 18.7.27.28 then thinke vpon the deuill and learne to suspect that estate which is without suspicion without iealousie without watchfulnesse Secondly ponder vpon this till it bee firmly ingraffed in thy minde that the deuill is as malicious and dangerous in small sins as in great ones in those that seeme to fawne as well as those that make the haire stand on end they are so odious For why he knowes well how to make a little sinne a shooing-horn to draw on a greater He that will be brought by custome to sweare neatly and dallie with oathes faith and troth or the like will also bee brought by a stronger occasion to sweare bloudily and roaringly He that in ease and peace fals backe from his care and diligence in good duties may feare he shall easily be induced by persecutions to fall quite away A scorner now will be a Bonner hereafter Theeues doubt not if they can put in a little boy at a window but the house is their own So here For why A small sinne entertained and cherished stifleth the conscience strengthneth corruption deadeth the heart and grieueth Gods Spirit Know this and with-stand Satan in such as well as in other sinnes Here is wisdome Thirdly let the Christian thinke on this policie that hee shall wisely and mightily resist the deuill if hee make a countertraine to vndermine the vnderminer That is let him vse the vttermost of his power to chase away the works of darknesse from himselfe and his familie and the place where he liueth also to set vp the worship of God in all places and establish it where it is and maintaine and grace and adorne it for this is quite contrary to the deuils machinations It was notable policie in Scipio when no meanes would serue to driue Hannibal out of Italie then to set vpon Carthage and so draw him homeward to defend his owne So that Christian who is continually infested by the malicious temptations of the deuill may deale very wisely if he vex him againe by enlarging the kingdome of grace not only sauing himselfe harmelesse but disaduantaging this his desperate aduersarie by all means possible V. Resist him constantly Lastly resist the deuill constantly not for a day or for a moneth or for a yeere or two or three or moe but to thy liues end Luk. 22.28 Abide with Christ in tentation This is the right and the blessed resisting What credit is it for the Lords souldier to stand one day and run away the next what good or what comfort to be free to day and a bondslaue tomorrow Therefore be aduised by the Apostle Eph. 6.13 Hauing done all stand being foiled begin afresh make another skirmish and another and another and neuer cease resisting till the deuill cease tempting and molesting thee and the crowne of conquest be set vpon thine head This is the solution of the third question Quest 4 Quest 4. Why and for what reasons should I resist the deuill and what are the grounds of this opposition Answ There cannot want abundance of arguments to shew this fit and necessary Specially in 3. heads Reasons for resistance 3. First consider who is thine Antagonist or the partie whom thou resistest He is that euill one he is Satan he is the deuill And either of these hath weight enough to vrge this resistance First he is that euill one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Ioh. 5.18 The deuill euill many wayes exquisitely euill euill according to the deriuation of the word with pains and industrie so euill that none goeth beyond him none commeth neere him in wickednesse And he is euill both by his wilfull departure from God the chiefe good and by a transcendent naughtinesse which is now inherent and seemeth all one with his nature Euill by occasioning the fall of mankinde from the top of goodnesse to the gulfe of extreme wickednesse as also by stirring vp and drawing forth the corruption of mans heart Euill by disgracing and discountenancing all the wayes he can all that is good both good men and good matters And by aiming in all his proceedings at mans greatest euill Now who that hath any sparke of grace or goodnesse in him will not picke a quarrell against such a one and stoutly maintaine the quarrell being once begun Shall simple people be afraid of the deuill when they heare him described to be a blacke grim fellow with clawes and hornes and all things terrible and shall not wee doe our best to keepe out of his clutches when wee heare he is so euill so incurably and desperately euill 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 osor inimicus Secondly he is Satan an enemie an aduersary Euil is alwaies opposite to good Therefore hee whom we haue found so euill must needs proue Satan Satan to whom he is an enemie a ranke aduersarie to all that good is First vnto God He stretcheth his ioynts and mainly bandeth his forces against the Maiestie of God primarily and principally and against others for his sake He maligneth that inexhaust fountaine of infinite grace that is in him thwarteth his most holy and righteous counsels disgraceth defaceth and extenuateth his most glorious works and seeketh to rob him of his glory peculiar to himselfe alone Thus our Sauiour noted him for an aduersarie Matt. 4.10 Auoid Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serue whereas before he was only called a tempter and the deuill So in the institutions which God hath appointed for the good of his people whether spirituall ordinances or temporall encouragements Here he fully sets him selfe to crosse the Lord in all his intendments He knowes that the more meanes he giueth vs to set vs forward in his seruice the more hee looketh to be worshipped Luk. 12.48 and the more he will require at our hands and if great fauours be abused the more is he dishonoured and his seruants endangered If he can get Adam to sinne in innocencie in Paradise then he hath made a whole world of sinners and a hell full of fire-brands If he can worke Dauid to adulterie 2 Sam. 12.14 and so to murder he wounds all religion thorow his sides and makes the Name of God to be blasphemed greatly for his sake Whence would he haue had Christ to fall but from a place where were staires to goe downe Cast thy selfe downe from hence Luk. 4.9 And where doth he more bestirre himselfe than in places where people haue greatest meanes of knowledge and good conscience Secondly he is an enemie to Christ the promised seede who came into the world to destroy the works of the deuill 1 Ioh. 3.8
of his purpose perfectly The Spirit of God assisteth the Christian heart and vpholdeth it with faith with patience with remembrance of the promises with the sense of Gods mercy and all conuenient supplies according to the seuerall and particular occasions Luk. 16.22 And at last the Angels take the soule as the soule of Lazarus and carry it into Abrahams bosome in endlesse blessednesse And now the whole skirmish is finished the field won the good fight of faith fought to the vttermost and the deuill fled away for euer and euer The point is this Doctr. The deuill resisted fleeth necessarily All the Lords Warriours who resist the deuill as they ought shall ouercome and be rid of him They are as sure of victorie as of trouble His presence is not so tedious and tiresome but his absence which is most certain shall be as ioyous and comfortable We fight not at vncertaintie but know wee shall ouercome It was for want of resistance that our first parents were deceiued and are of the forbidden tree that Dauid lifted vp his heart and numbred the people that Iudas betrayed his Master and so fell into his owne place and that euer any was subdued by the deuil was for want of resistance They that would ouercome did ouercome and could not be foiled Our Sauiour resisted and saw the deuill flying from him The Apostles and Disciples resisted and saw him fall like lightning from heauen Saint Paul resisted and found grace sufficient against the messenger of Satan that buffeted him In a word all the Angels of Michael that fought against the dragon did so thrust him to the walls that hee was cast out and his place found no more Where the Christian findes a heart hands the deuill must finde wings and heeles And why Reason 1 First because of the faithfull promise of the mightie God who is able to doe this for vs and hath said hee will doe it And hee hath said so both here Resist the deuill and he will flie from you and elsewhere The God of peace shall bruise Satan vnder your feet shortly Rom. 16.20 where the Apostle speakes of them that are wise vnto good and simple concerning euil which is all one with resisting of the deuill To such he is a God of peace and will in a little time put an end to all their conflicts For faithfull is he that hath promised who also will doe it Vincatur necesse est quia Christus quem confitemur inuictus est Cyp. de exhort Martyr Secondly the valour of our Captain is such that the enemie cannot stand before him or vs. He himselfe by himselfe did in single combat put him to the worse and made him auoid by whose conduct and conquest wee also shall goe away victors Wee goe not forth against these hellish wickednesses in our owne name and strength but in the name and strength of God by the power of Christ who was neuer ouercome yet but ouercame in euery skirmish Reu. 12.11 They ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe And hereof wee may assure our selues before we set foot out of our tents and campe as the Church of old Psalm 44.5 Through thee will we push downe our enemies through thy Name will we tread them vnder that rise vp against vs. The same voice of Christ that sent away the deuill from himselfe Auoid Satan will send him away from vs also when our temptations as his are ended Thirdly the validitie of our armour is greatly preualent for the foile of this enemie For the excellencie of it it is called the armour of God Eph. 6.13 and for the compleatnesse of it it is called whole armour of God And because of this God will not haue his workmanship so much disparaged as to suffer him that vseth it to take a repulse or suffer the armour it selfe to be broken and mangled The edge of the sword of the Spirit was neuer yet blunted by the hardinesse of the enemie no They ouercame him by the word of their testimonie Reu. 12.11 The Word of God is of an inuincible nature not one tittle of it can passe away it will vphold him that holds it forth so that he cannot perish in his afflictions The shield of faith was neuer yet bored or pierced thorow by any darts of the deuill came they neuer so thicke and violent No this is the victorie which ouercommeth the world 1 Ioh. 5.4 both the Prince of it and the malice and the allurements and the affrightments of it euen our faith Faith as much as a graine of mustard seed can doe wonders The helmet of saluation was neuer yet beat off the head of Gods Warriour So hope is called 1 Thess 5.8 by any snares of fierie temptations which the deuill rained downe vpon him No our hope is a sure anchor so stedfast in apprehending his Obiect that it entreth into that within the veile Heb. 6.19 By our patience wee may possesse our soules Luk. 21.19 euen when our enemies are most vrgent vpon vs and ready to tire vs out Euen then when we loue not our liues to the death wee shall ouercome the dragon Reuel 12.11 By effectuall and feruent praier wee shall preuaile much Iam. 5.16 The Lord neuer heareth that voice which the Archangell spake The Lord rebuke thee Iude 9. but presently he consenteth and saith The Lord rebuke thee O Satan euen the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee Zech. 3.2 So of all the parts of our Christian armour they are all so cutting and wounding and deadly in slaying that the enemie as Ahab must die of the blow and be glad to retire Fourthly the deuill is indeed an enemie but an enemie already ouercome and smitten with his deaths-wound Christ hath spoiled principalities and powers for vs and triumphed ouer them openly vpō his Crosse Col. 2.15 so that all our resistance is as it were but the kicking of a curst beast whose throat is already cut to let out his life-bloud whereby hee doth yet spurn against vs. There was no more for the Captaines of Israel to doe after the battell ended but onely to tread vpon the fiue heathen Kings whom Ioshua had ouercome Ios 10.24 Come neere put your feet vpon the necks of these Kings The like is the voice of our victorious Ioshua Come here are enemies foiled to your hands vp and trample vpon them Christ puls out the sting of the old hellish serpent and then saith in the words of the Psalmist Ipsi Christo applicat Irenaeus l. 3. c. 38. Thou shalt tread vpon the lion and adder the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet Psal 91.13 Christ put the deuill to his wings when himselfe had beene violently tempted And euer since he hath beene so crazie and fearfull that the weakest member of Christ vsing the same method and meanes of resisting hath beene able to chase him away Also by vertue thereof the
enemie whom otherwise of our selues we are ready to loue and ioyne withall as a very friend They that are not so carefull are too too carelesse Hee can doe little that cannot call for helpe against an enemy Yet naturall men thinke themselues good enough for the deuill Good hearts and good faith and a good deale of spetting shall chase him quite away So they forsake the rocke of their health and forget the strong God of their saluation Sixtly if thou hatest the deuill aright then as neere as thou canst thou wilt giue him no aduantage from thy selfe A man that hates another who beares him no good will but watcheth all opportunities against him will bee sure for his owne part to let fall nothing in word or deede which may disaduantage himselfe or aduantage that his aduersarie So wilt thou watch against this enemie The deuill doth often get ground of vs through our owne folly as namely by the passions of anger feare and the like by naturall affections as loue to parents children kinsmen by refections of nature as about meat and drinke and sleepe and apparell by wordly businesses and the distractions that attend them by couetousnesse by earthlinesse by too much closenesse and niggardlinesse So hee got within Iudas and within Peter by fearefulnesse and by choler and furie he gets within vs not seldome as the Apostle seemes to argue Ephe. 4.26 27. Be angry and sinne not let not the Sunne goe downe vpon your wrath Neither giue place to the deuill Which bends mainly against them that are altogether open and loose in such things no watchfulnesse no iealousie ouer their deceitfull hearts and so giue the deuill as much aduātage against them as hee desireth And this is of all other the most killing mischiefe when hee worketh in our troubled affections and destroyeth ere we be aware The last marke of right enmity is a zealous endeuour to thrust downe the Kingdome of the deuill in others as a man that hates another will doe him al the mischiefe he can hinder his profit impeach his credit and good name incense his friends and raise vp enemies against him Thus the Apostles went vp and downe shaking the strong holds of Satan and casting downe euery high thing that exalted it selfe against the knowledge of Christ 2 Cor. 10.4 5. Thus if one who hath authoritie doth vse his authoritie for the suppressing of disorders the shaming and punishing of euill members the preseruing of the holinesse of the Lords Sabbaths If one that is rich will be at charges to set vp and hold vp the Ordinances of God especially the preaching of the word which giueth the deuill the greatest blow hee can receiue If Masters of families doe chase away riotous and wicked persons and set good in the roome and seeke to make all an holy company to the Lord If priuate Christians and one neighbour to another shall vse admonition in due season call one another from sinfull courses and to the house of God or any other way further the sanctification and saluation of their brethren They shall doe worthy offices against the deuill and shew themselues to be his right sworne enemies Christ our Captaine who strucke at the head of the serpent was for this purpose manifested that he might destroy the workes of the deuill 1 Iohn 3.8 So also doth euery true Christian who partakes of his anointing Hee also will manifest himselfe what hee is and whose he is by endeauouring euery way hee can to destroy the workes of the deuill And they that are not thus affected haue not yet the right enmitie in their hearts they professe to hate the deuill but loue him well enough Vse I Three sorts of men reproued A reproofe it is to diuers If these be marks of right enmity then how many are there that must needs say if they will speake truth that they neuer yet hated the deuill as they ought But specially three sorts of people come here to be reproued 1. They that thinke not 〈◊〉 this enmitie First some liuing ciuilly and vnblamably among men are altogether secure of this hellish enemie and neuer imagine that either the deuill practiseth any thing against them or they ought to watch against him They thinke not at all on such matters They cannot tell whether there bee any such enmitie or no or should bee Yea many take it for their happinesse that they are neuer troubled with thoughts about the deuill Oh they are in good case and God hath blessed them fairely that they feele not the afflictions of conscience which such and such feele and need not complaine as they doe And they neuer espie the deuil till afterward that is when hee hath got them to doe what hee would haue them doe it may bee neuer but in the great and grosse sinnes of others Oh the deuill was busie and great with him that cōmitted murder that hanged himselfe or did some notorious wickednesse But they neuer watch before hand to see or preuent him And they are presumptuously confident that they are safe and the deuill shall neuer be so great with them as hee was with such such That is all their preparation that is all their care to keepe him out But as for the shaking and supplanting of his Kingdome in their brethren here they are deepely secure and doe nothing at all neuer care to execute any of those things in the seuenth The neuer see the power of Satan in mens hearts and liues They know what it is and how miserable to bee corporally possessed of the deuill and wish meanes may bee had to release them but what it is to be spiritually possessed of him they know not therefore desire no meanes for their good Indeed how should they tender the welfare of others haue compassion on the soules of others who neuer knew their owne bondage nor rightly pitied their owne soules 2. They that embrace the contrary amitie Secondly some are so farre from waging enmitie against the deuill that they haue entred into most neere amitie with him and giue vp themselues to be ruled by him at his pleasure There seemes to be but one head and one heart and one hand and one aime betweene them Their counsels and affections and actions and intentions are one and the same only for rebellion against God I meane all prophane persons who goe on in a constant and customary practise of any sinne or many sinnes If they should doe the deuill a spight by daily frequenting of alehouses by tipling by gaming by swearing or any such abominations then they were bitter enemies to him and they would spight him cruelly for this they doe day by day nothing more But euery wise man seeth that this pleaseth the deuill exceedingly and he is delighted in nothing so much Therefore his they are and of them Saint Iohn saith 1 Iohn 3.8 He that committeth sinne is of the deuill They agree with him as the silly Israelites with Absalom in his
A Spirituall Trumpet EXCITING AND preparing to the Christian WARFARE Sounded first in the vtmost parts of the Lords Campe to one wing of the Armie now in the midst for the benefit of all By WILLIAM IEMMAT Master of Arts and Preacher of Gods word at Lechlade in Gloucester shire Cyp. epist ad Cornel. Qui in pace militibus suis futuram praenunciat pugnam dabit militantibus in congressione victoriam LONDON Printed by I. H. for Iohn Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheape-side 1624. To all the LORDS Captaines and Souldiers W. I. wisheth courage and victorie GOod friends my purpose in publishing these few leaues is to rub vp the memory of those many good Treatises already extant concerning Temptations and the Christian Warfare M. Taylor M. Downam c. and to bring them into vse Pitie it is to see how so many and so good helps are generally neglected and people for most part liue as if they had neuer heard of spirituall enemies neither in the Ministerie nor otherwise Certainly it is one maine stratageme of our aduersary the deuill perswading either that there are no such blacke fiends to be feared or that they haue no power to tempt or corrupt them through the goodnesse of their hearts and the strength of their faith and working them to busie themselues about other matters worldly affaires lusts vanities and the treacherie of pretended friends true enemies While they run at large in these things they shall neglect him and his vndermining Whereto if we adde the sensualitie of carnall men and women who cannot looke vp to things aboue sense and will not when they are called on wee haue I thinke the full cause of this vniuersall securitie One of these rocks is commonly run vpon The most thinke not on it whether there be any deuill or no. Many espie a deuill but rather in others than themselues And after the sin is committed not before And it must be a foule grosse open sinne too or else it goeth without obseruation The multitude is of opinion that bare spetting at the mention of the deuill and defying of him is sufficient And so I haue marked in the very treating of these things publikely This is an vnreproueable resolution and must not be called into question And in other places where this is laughed at for great simplenes as indeed it is yet through carelesnesse or worldlinesse or voluptuousnes or other profanenesse the deuill keepes vp his strong holds and suffers in no manner as hee should The story of these wars is all they affect and regard Yea Gods owne people doe not acquâ—â— themselus so generously as they ought in this coÌ„bat but by the former euills take great foiles and hinder their progresse in grace exceedingly And some of them who resist the deuill well and carefully in respect of sanctification and the exercises thereof yet in respect of consolation and those blessed priuileges which their heauenly Father allowes them in Christ doe not resist him but passe their daies vncoÌ„fortably But these are more to be pitied than blamed Yet withall must bead monished to resist in this kinde as well as the other because the deuils malice is seene in this as in that and God hath promised victory as well as enioyned resistance If I may as a Trumpeter stir vp the Lords Campe to consider better of these enemies I haue my desire For meÌ„ of the former sort is the former voice of this Trumpet in the Direction For those of the latter sort the latter voice in the CoÌ„solation Take both together you shall acquit your selues like men like men of God Lately I endeuoured by a small watchword to arme Gods people against the malignity of the world S. Matthewes contiersion which at the worst can but put vs to the losse of all worldly comforts and must still leaue vnto vs God and Christ and our great Comforter our graces integrity of our consciences the glory of heauen And now I attempt the like concerning this Arch-enemie the god of the world 2 Cor. 4.4 the prince of darknes He hath many waies to assaile vs and we haue many weapons to repel him with promise therof and victory and a crowne of triumph There is no one thing that can discourage vs if we be not wanting to our selues in watchfulnesse in conscionable vse of the meanes and holy endeuours Therfore let vs vp and bee doing and our God will goe out with vs to assist vs and foile our enemies But I will not preâ—et my selâ—e in the ensuing exhortations Take theÌ„ good Reader as they are and though they giue not so strong and shrill a sound as in the hand of the Lords other Trumpeters yet a distinct sound they giue I trust such as may prepare good Christians to the battell The Lord of hosts who hath ordained these conflicts hath said to his Prophets their successors Esa 58.1 Cry aloud lift vp thy voice like a Trumpet and Set the Trumpet to thy mouth Hos 8.1 vouchsafe a blessing to these my endeuours and giue his people a heart to looke about them that while we keepe out carnall enemies we admit not spirituall and lose not our soules by security while wee preserue our bodies and outward estates by magnanimity What will it prosit a man to win the whole world and lose his owne sowle So I rest thirsting for a good issue of all these trialls and skirmishes to you and al the Lords Warriors that I may reioyce with you in the day of our full Triumph Lechlade Nouemb 27. 1624. W. IEMMAT A short view of the Contents of this Booke THe text consists of a Direction Consolation In the Direction six things are handled I. The Doctrine proposed and proved page 3. II. The Obiect or in what the Diuell must be resisted 1. In his own proper suggestions mouing Vnto euill p. 7. From good p. 8. 2. In the temptations of his instruments whereof 3. sorts p. 10. III. The meanes whereby be must be resisted 1. Rules of Preparation which are three Sound illumination in the points p. 19. SouÌ„d humiliation p. 26. SouÌ„d reformation p. 28. 2. Rules of Oppugnation Some meanes are Principall as 1. The Word 2. Faith 3. Hope 4. Patience 5. Prayer p. 30. Lesse Principal and auxiliary as 1. Comfort of conscience p. 42. 2. Communion of Saints p. 43. IV. The manner how the Deuil must be resisted Earely in respect of Our life three reasons p. 46. Any one temptation to sin p. 56. Gouragiously wherefoure grounds of courage p. 60. Vniversally p. 66. Wifely where three Rules of wisdome in resistance p. 68. Constantly p. 75. V. The reasons why hee must be resisted 1. The nature of the resisted That euill one diuers waies p. 77. Satan an enemie To God p. 81. To Christ p. 84. To the Gospell p. 86. To eminent men p. 89. To holy and wholsome orders p. 90. To euery particular Christia
wee walke among these snares and thornes and rubs in our way we must get our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Eph. 6.15 Fiftly Prayer is the bond that ties all the other peeces together as there verse 18. Praying alwayes with all praier and supplication in the Spirit and watching therunto with all perseuerance Praier how it is helpfull Pray to espie a temptation when it commeth pray to bee able to vse the armour which God hath put vpon vs to be resolute and couragious for the truth to be deliuered from euill that wee may not enter into temptation or be left to our selues and Satans courtesie And when the battell goeth sore against vs crie aloud as Iehosaphat in the armie for aid and succour from God and say Lord rebuke Satan magnifie thy power in confounding him and strengthning mee and giue me grace to resist vnto bloud These are the maine weapons for resisting Two subsidiarie aids the deuill For the better managing whereof vse these two helps First keepe thy selfe in such a temper that thou maist alway enioy the benefit of a good and a pure conscience Dubbe it not with the filthinesse of any sinne let none be admitted willingly or wittingly nor continue vnrepented of for this would choake thy conscience when it should haue a voice to checke thee Yea labour on the contrary to fortifie and cheare it Hic murus aheneus esto Nil conscire sibi nulla pallescere culpa vp with the sweet testimonie of vprightnesse and integritie So shall it be bold to speake for thee and answer Satan Marke also the motions and checks and recoilings of it and make a good vse of them because this tends to the application of the former weapons Secondly bee sure thou liuest indeed in the Communion of Saints As thou beleeuest it so make vse of it which is by ioyning thy forces with the rest of Gods people Pray for the brethren who endure the same skirmishes abroad in the world help them with thy counsell and experiences and be as readie also to take profit from them suffer the word of admonition yea craue it depend vpon their lips that they may feed thee descrie what policies of Satan thou hast met withall and wherein he is most happily repulsed Compare trials and conquests and counsels Ioyne all together and you shall all speed the better So did the Apostles and Disciples against the rage of the deuill in his instruments the chiefe Priests and their whole Councell Act. 4 23-31 And this be spoken of the second question Quest 3 Quest 3. In what manner should we resist the deuill or what are the conditions of sound resistance 1. Resist the deuill betimes Answ First resist him earely and timely and that both in respect of thy life and in respect of any one sin whereby hee would haue euill done or good left vndone 1. In the beginning of thy life 3. reas For the former Begin thy life with this holy combat and end it in the same Thy whole being on the face of the earth from thy birth-day to thy dying-day is a continuall warfare Thou art borne in a campe among souldiers and armour Thy Parents by their profession are of the traine band fighting vnder the conduct and colours of the Lord Iesus And canst thou expect immunitie expect it not no part of thy life is free from hazzards therefore let none be free from watchfulnes from resistance And the equity hereof stands vpon three other reasons First remember there is an old grudge betweene thee and Satan in this very respect He was enuious spightfull at the prosperitie of mankinde as soone as it began could not endure to see man so happy and himselfe so miserable laid about him how to strip our fathers and vs of all those robes of blessednesse wherewith God had cloathed vs and leaue vs naked to his owne condemnation and hee neuer ceased till he had effected his purpose And is not this a good argument to resist him timely What braue or generous spirit can put vp such an iniurie What no reuenge for so great an indignitie Ioh. 8.44 Shall Satan bee a man slayer from the beginning and wilt not thou be a deuill-slaier at least a resister of the deuill from thy beginning Did hee owe thee a spight when thou hadst done him no wrong and doest thou owe him no ill-will since he hath done thee the greatest wrong that can be Consider his forwardnesse to vndoe thee and be thou as forward to oppose him Secondly consider this that God hath scarce euer raised vp any notable instrument to repaire his decaied Church and defeat Satan of his malicious purposes but he hath presently bestirred himselfe to suppresse and hinder it and make it forcelesse Abel was a most faithfull and holy man very hopefull and likely to establish the pure worship of God in his familie and posteritie if he had liued therefore what should the deuill but cut him off quickly and shed his bloud by his owne brother Iehosua was willing and ready to doe much good for the Temple of the Lord at Ierusalem therefore what should Satan but stand at his right hand and resist him Paul Zech. 3.1 immediately vpon his conuersion set himselfe to preach the Gospell and plant Churches among the nations therefore what should Satan but set himselfe to stirre vp tumults and doe his best euery way to hinder him The Church 1 Thess 2.18 the Spouse of Christ is a woman Reuel 12.1 cloathed with the Sun that is in the robes of Christ the Sun of righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 and the moone vnder her feet that is disesteeming and trampling vpon all these vaine and transitorie things in the world and hath vpon her head a crowne of twelue starres that is professeth the doctrine of the twelue Apostles which shee accounts her crowne and glory This woman being married to Christ is often with childe by her husband to the subuersion of the kingdome of darknesse Now marke the disposition of the Prince of darknesse in this case vers 4. He still plaieth rex in the Church casteth downe a third part of the starres from heauen to earth that is many Preachers and Professors of the truth partly by erroneous doctrine and partly by a prophane course of life But especially if there be a childe to be â—orne who shall rule all nations with a rod of iron that is mightily subiect them to the obedience of the Gospell if so now hee vseth more than ordinary diligence to spoile the birth and deuoure the childe so saith the Spirit The dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be deliuered to deuoure her child as soone as it was borne Neuer doth there peepe a speciall beautifull plant in the garden of God but incontinently hee doth what he can to crop it away Therefore see herein his malice and learne by himselfe to resist him early
say I answer Yes and I haue iust cause so to doe for it is as dangerous a condition as those who are openly prophane if not more But howsoeuer it cannot be good it cannot be safe For hath not the opening of this text discouered that the life of a Christian here is the life of a souldier Haue we not heard of warre and fighting and striuing and resisting And haue wee not seene that this bustling is grounded vpon reasons very sufficient Whence then is this generall carelesnesse and vniuersall vnfeelingnesse which possesseth the hearts of the sonnes of men Is it indeed a pleasant or an easie thing to be a warriour No trouble no feare no distraction in a campe No wounds or bloudshed in an armie Were hee not a foole that would goe into a battell aray and yet say Ezek. 13.10 Peace Peace where there can bee no peace Examine the matter by common reason and you shall finde it euidently true Then looke backe vpon Satan and thinke if you can that he is more idle or weake to follow his skirmish than men are to follow theirs Nay he is more malicious more puissant more vnweariable No truce can be taken no fauour expected no conditions of peace accepted vnlesse wee yeeld him all that hee asketh and what that is let any one iudge Therefore my brethren let these things worke vpon our hearts and perswade vs for time to come to fight and fight valiantly Let vs know that wee haue a most pestilent and terrible and bloud-thirstie enemie And knowing it we cannot in reason but doe our best to preuent his purposes Let vs be sober and temperate in all things not suffering our selues to be clogged with any distract-full hindrances within vs or without vs as they that run in a race and striue for the masterie 1 Cor. 9.25 And not only be sober but watch 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant And not only so but pray Matt. 26.41 Watch and pray that yee enter not into tentation And more than that Endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Iesus Christ 2 Tim. 2.3 Be not entangled with the affaires of this life striue lawfully Vse 2 A caueat to the godly against securitie and lukewarmnesse Secondly this serueth as an antidote or preseruatiue to the children of God to keepe them holily constant in that ranke wherein the Lord hath placed them Oftentimes it commeth to passe through the weaknesse of their flesh and the heauinesse of their spirit and the occasions they haue in the world and their familiaritie with good duties that they doe euen stand at a stay and know not well which way to turne themselues To ioyne with prophane ones they dare not they cannot it is against their profession and conscience and saluation And to exceed themselues in the work of holinesse they know not how They are sure that more grace should and may be obtained but wherein or how Thus in a maze as it were and doubtfull what to doe they easily incline to a temperate mediocritie and rest content with some of the power 2 Tim. 3.5 but more of the forme of godlinesse Grace they intend still to pursue but without due affection Holy exercises they will still obserue both at home at Church but coldly sleepily brokenly vnfeelingly vnfruitfully This lukewarmnesse of theirs carnall persons see and laugh at it themselues see and bewaile it and wish it were with them as sometimes it was at their first conuersion to bee forward and zealous and doe the worke of the Lord diligently But how may this be or what should they doe Here now I answer by vertue of this text Resist the deuill Many meanes they haue to shake vp their securitie as for example To consider deeply and seriously the multitude and hainousnesse of their sinnes both before their regeneration and since To recount their extreme beggerie in themselues and vnworthinesse to receiue the least fauour from the Lord To prize highly the bloud of the Couenant wherewith they are redeemed and the like But especially let them be carefull to remember and carry in minde this necessary doctrine of the Christian Warfare For if the noise of drums and trumpets if the fourbishing of swords and the glittering of armour and the trailing of pikes will not stirre vp a mans spirits what will This therefore let the Christian man consider and thus let him say with himselfe What haue I no enemie with whom to exercise my selfe Are there no deuils abroad in the world or in hell Hath my purse enemies on the high-way and my goods enemies about my house and my body enemies and my soule no enemies Much adoe I finde in getting and keeping a small worldly estate about me and doth it aske no feare or paines to get and keepe possession of the kingdome of heauen What no opposition Did all the earth sit still Zech. 1.11 12. and at rest while Ierusalem was vnder an heauie indignation threescore and ten yeeres and shall I who professe my selfe one of the citizens of the new Ierusalem sit still and at rest while the whole world of Beleeuers is hot in the battell How doth this hang together Should I not weepe with them that weepe and be sorrie with them that sorrow Haue I not too iust cause so to doe Why what doe I thinke of Satan Is he so louing that he will spare me or so weake that he will feare me Is he witlesse that he cannot deceiue me by subtiltie or idle that he will not Was hee too good for our first parents in innocencie for Noah a Patriarke for Dauid a Prophet for Peter an Apostle for Demas an Euangelist for Ananias and Sapphira two famous Professors and many Worthies of the Lord and is it not likely hee will get ground of me Me Alas silly creature that I am who am I to stand in the hands of so stout a Champion especially vnarmed Therfore hearken O my soule and all that is within me muster vp your forces and come into the field I haue hitherto spotted slept and snorted in the cradle of securitie I little dreamt of an enemie at least to be so neere as indeed he is like Saul and Abner in the campe when Dauid might haue smote off their heads 1 Sa. 26.8.15 An hundred to one but I had beene destroied ere this time Oh blessed be God who hath deliuered mee out of the mouth of the Lion and the paw of the Beare and hath giuen mee time to see mine errour By the grace of my Lord Iesus I will hereafter keepe more constantly to my colours fight vnder the bannet of my owne Lord. Thus therefore I argue Is he a fox and not subtill Is he a serpent and not wilie and if hee be subtill wilie hath he no feats or tricks to put vpon mee Because I in simplicitie thinke him no harme doth hee thinke mee none Is he not now at this present time about some stratageme to
vndermine mee Doth hee not lay siege to the Castle of my soule either to scale the walls of my faith or to batter the bulwarke of my patience or to pull downe the turrets of my zeale and fortitude Hath hee not some fetch or other to draw mee from my hold and then some ambushment to surprise me vnawares Yes he hath a thousand wayes to circumuent such a simple fresh-water souldier as I am as many turnings and windings as ansractuous Meandrus as many heads as the serpent Hydra as many eyes as the neuer-sleeping Argus Therefore seeing the vncircumcised Philistims are still ready to come vpon me and binde me if I sleepe I will surely looke vnto them I will vp and shake my selfe and follow my Christen course more warily more watchfully The Lord grant that thou maiest Vse 3 Thirdly let this be a word of exhortation to all of vs so to resist the deuill thâ—t he may flie from vs. The most hold it fit to resist him but few agree vpon the right manner Therefore let vs deale thorowly in this businesse and neuer rest till wee know wee resist as wee ought Quest How may I know that Markes of right resisting the deuill Answ First if thou resistest thine owne corrupt and rebellious flesh by mortification humiliation watchfulnesse and the conscionable vse of holy meanes For the deuill and our owne flesh are of the same kinde in respect of sinne and fight equally against the soule as 1 Pet. 2.11 Abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule and Iam. 4.1 Lusts warre in the members This is an home-bred enemie lurking within our owne walls Of it selfe it worketh many stratagems against vs by mouing to the acts of pride malice reuenge oppression contempt of the Gospell and the like And the deuill is no readier to craue its assistance than it is to afford it working slily as he doth and secretly that the Christian almost needs not to aske that question How shall I discerne the temptations of Satan from the euill motions of mine owne heart Some difference there is and a deuill may be espied by the suddennesse and horriblenesse and vnnaturainesse and importanacie of his suggestions The motions of nature are more slow and more sutable with nature and not so violently pursued as those are But for the most part we need not obserue any such distinction the flesh easily agreeing with the deuill and the deuill shaping his temptations to the desire of the flesh This a good Christian knowes and therfore he lookes homeward principally Especially seeing the deuill cannot foile him without himselfe but himselfe can destroy himselfe without the deuill So that well was it said Ier. 17.9 The heart of man is deceitfull and wicked aboue all things euen aboue that foule spirit as foule and as blacke as he is Some say of Mary Magdalen Luke 8.2 that seuen deuils were cast out of her that is seuen deadly sinnes pride adulterie and the rest And we may almost say So many sinnes as thou cherishest and maintainest Quot peecata tot daemonia willingly and with delight of thy heart so many deuils thou lodgest vnder the roofe of the house of thy soule Matt. 12.43 They are vncleane spirits because they beare rule ouer men by the vncleannesse of their hearts and liues Now examine thy selfe by this marke So truly and faithfully as thou watchest against the corruptions of thy nature so truly and faithfully thou resistest the deuill And those are easily proued liers who say they defie and scorne the deuill yet obey their owne lusts vse no discipline toward their vnrulie hearts but take their owne swindge in any or all vngodlinesse No no they agree with him well enough he desireth no better weapons against vs than those out of our owne armourie Secondly thou resistest the deuill so long as thou desirest to resist and this desire is euer accompanied with care and watchfulnesse None in the Lords field is yet ouercome who desireth to ouercome yea they that fall by the sleights of Satan and are taken away by violence yet falling in this quarrell Heb. 12.4 and resisting vnto bloud they are still conquerours and more than conquerors God who accepteth the will for the deed accepteth the faithfull purpose of resistance for resistance it selfe euen when the Tempter doth somewhat preuaile make battery vpon the soule Christ taketh notice of the willingnesse of the spirit in his Apostles Matt. 26.41 when hee seeth great weaknesse in their flesh And this note serueth principally for the comfort of afflicted soules which crie out of themselues as foiled and such as haue cast vp the buckler to the deuill in way of voluntary yeelding yet minding to goe on in the skirmish as trustily as euer and keeping the same way as before They must know that their case is good enough and they shall be accepted according to what they haue 2 Cor. 8.12 and not according to what they haue not yea according to that which they desire to haue A man in warre that is halfe dead doth what he can against the enemie by spurning by supplanting or otherwise And so doe you against the grand enemie of your soules therefore shall not bee accounted to haue reuolted but shall bee crowned as well as the rest and it may bee among the first Only continue this desire care still to maintaine the Lords right and watch still to disappoint the aduersarie This shall be reckoned to you for perfection of valour The third marke of resistance is this If thou grieuest when thou art foiled and seekest to recouer thy selfe and make amends by better trustinesse Vndoe the works of the deuill by morning for them by repentance by running to the ensignes of Christ and by doing the contrary works of what kinde soeuer and now know thou hast resisted For the deuils purpose is that thou shouldest continue vnder a foile and hee knowes that if he cannot get thee to lie still in the sinne committed it will doe him no good nor thee harme It is one kinde of resistance to recouer our selues after our falls Otherwise which of the Lords Worthies did euer resist him 1 Chron. 21.1 2 Sam. 24.1 Satan stirred vp Dauid to number the people and he numbred them which was his great sinne so mortally punished but Dauids heart smote him for this fact and hee made his recantation saying I have sinned Vers 17. I haue done wickedly let thine hand be against me and my fathers house and so Satan was altogether disappointed of his malicious proiect against him The fourth marke is If thou art troubled when thou seest the works of darknesse goe forward and gladded to see any thing on foot that ouerthrowes the kingdome of the deuill For he that resisteth him aright would haue him resisted and reiected euery where by others as well as by himselfe hee would haue none obey him or submit to his gouernment he is
ancient Beleeuers who were before Christ in time being the fore-ward in this barrell did nor flie before their enemie but made him to flie and that euery way as efficaciously as wee can doe Fiftly our owne weake and fraile condition requireth such respite 〈◊〉 some times Sometimes the deuill must be gone that wee may be a little refreshed and reuiued Wee need a breathing time and therefore it shall not be as the deuill will who would alwayes molest vs and get that by importunitie which by perswasion he could not get but will he nill he he must sometimes vanish The Lord knows our frame and how we are but dust easily foiled with long vexation therefore in compassion to our infirmitie he stinteth our aduersarie what he shall doe and how long he shall stay and when he shall auoid and will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that wee are able An issue there is of our trials and hee will with the temptation make a way to escape that wee may bee able to beare it 1 Cor. 10.13 The Lord knowes 2 Pet. 2.9 how to deliuer the godly out of temptations both when the fit time is and what are the meanes and what is the measure of his seruants strength Likewise hee will haue them haue time to prepare themselues for other skirmishes To repaire the breaches which Satan made to fortifie their holds where they are weake to trie their weapons in better manner to gather their grounds of comfort together for magnanimitie and vnweariablenesse Finally they shall haue some space allotted that they may enioy comforts from God and the ioy of their saluation Temptations are vncouth and blacke and terrible and vex a good heart and disquiet the minde with an holy indignation During which time the Christian cannot take his portion of reioycing in the Lord as the word doth allow him Therfore a time shall bee when this harshnesse and bitternesse shall be gone and the contrary sweetnesse succeed in the place Vse 1 Consolation to the godly Heare this yee armies of the Lord and be comforted Reioyce ye heauens and yee that dwell in them Now is come saluation and strength and the kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast downe which accused them before our God day and night Reu. 12.10.12 The deuill as malicious and subtill as he is yet when he is resisted must flie away Hee is of a crauenly brood and cannot stand where he findes a valiant opponent Let this therefore stop all voices of vnquietnesse and especially the voices of desperation whereby the Christian doth many times too much trouble himselfe O saith hee I finde not this doctrine true the deuill doth not so flie from mee as you speake but is euer assailing mee with thoughts of blasphemie with idle and filthy and vnlawfull motions A fourefold answer to complaints of Satans tediousnesse in tempting I finde almost continuall temptations To whom I answer First you say well that the deuils temptations are almost continuall for I know they are not continuall altogether and wholly You finde some refreshing betweene-whiles And is not this some comfort Doth it not flie away though it be but for a while And did he leaue your Lord and Sauiour otherwise It is sufficient that the seruant be as his Master and not in better estate Matt. 10.25 Secondly our whole life on earth is a time of warfare and no part of it can be secure from the Tempter Know therefore if he should stay till death yet then he must be gone If he flie not at noone yet he must and will flie by night Only resist and his backe shall be turned vpon you first or last Stay the time and wait when it will be And take heed you looke not for more immunitie from trouble than your present condition will permit Thirdly you say the deuill doth not flie from you Looke and consider how well you resist him It may be you shall finde by examination that he staieth the longer with you by your owne default According to our resistance is his flight and according to our manfulnesse his cowardlinesse No wonder if he stand his ground where hee is faintly and heartlesly opposed Our Sauiour tells vs that some deuils are not cast out but by fasting and praier Matt. 17.21 So also some temptations and molestations cannot bee vanquished but by extraordinary care and striuing Fourthly when the people of God haue their hearts testifying with them that they haue done their best in resisting the deuill and yet he flieth not away so perfectly as they desire let them know this is matter of comfort rather than of sorrow and if they could remember their grounds they should rather reioyce than be troubled So saith Saint Iames chap. 1.2 My brethren count it all ioy when ye fall into diuers temptations For this is a signe that the deuill hath not yet won vs. He is not so silly and vnwise as to trouble his owne It is good to haue him our enemie and we may well bee ioyous in this euen in the very midst of all the throng Woe vnto vs when the deuill begins to be our friend If we be not tried and iudged as other of Gods people are wee haue the more cause to trie and iudge our selues Vse 2 Fond to leaue godlinesse for a supposed perpetuitie of molestation Againe wee see by this doctrine how fond it is to feare perpetuall molestation and so leaue the power and sound practise of godlinesse Many thinke and some are not ashamed to say that if they set to such such exercises they shall leade a melancholie life euer afterward Oh this profession of the Gospell which Ministers vrge so much is a tedious and vncomfortable profession they shall be still troubled with the deuill the world will bee vpon their backs and manifold vexations they must endure Amongst the many errors committed in this argumentation the answer to the chiefe is this that there is no enemie they shall meet withall in these distasted wayes of holinesse No enemie in Christianitie but must flie but if he be resisted hee must flie away It is impossible he should stand if we our selues be willing to chase him away Our text is plaine concerning the great and most hideous enemie whom wee must encounter And as plaine is the Scripture concerning the other enemies 1 Ioh. 5.4 Euery one that is borne of God ouercammeth the world euen when it commeth against vs with tribulation and distresse and persecution and famine and nakednesse and perill and sword In all these things wee are more than conquerors through him that loued vs Rom. 8.37 As for our owne flesh and the lusts thereof which warre against our soules the Lord hath giuen vs his owne Spirit to take part with vs against them that as the flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5.17 so the spirit also shall lust against the flesh
conspiracie 2 Sam. 15.11 They went in their simplicitie and knew not any thing They are traitors to God ere they be aware and serue Gods greatest enemie whom they pretend to hate None of those vile persons will yeeld hee is the seruant and childe of the deuill but will scorne the motion and professe the quite contrary But that is nothing and wee must proue shortly that wicked men are the seed of the hellish serpent Euery one is borne a limbe of the deuill and hee whom grace altereth not doth so continue resembling his father in the grossest wickednesse yet some more some lesse as children are like their parents some more than others 3. They that helpe the deuill in stead of hindring him Thirdly some there are who in stead of hating the deuill and hindring him as they should doe rather gratifie him and helpe him what they can I doe not say they purpose to doe him a good turne and meane absolutely to set him vp for the king and god of the world but in effect they doe as much they doe that which doth aduance the deuill and his kingdome among men Let them bee tried by their works as our Sauiour argued with the Iewes and then though they say neuer so often they are the children of Abraham and of God yet they will be found to be the children of the deuill Iohn 8.44 for his works they doe More they are indeed his friends his louing and deare friends for his works they set forward and procure as many as they can to ioyne with them in the same wickednesse As for example how many are there who set themselues to make their brother drunken and lay him vnder the table How many who force oathes vpon their neighbour and twit a man for a Puritane who will not rap out a fearfull oath as they would haue him How many that begin misse-rule and vile disorders in a place and that with a strong hand and a stiffe necke purposely to draw others from the obedience of the Ministerie make them like to themselues in an vnreformable obstinacie and so in other instances Woe vnto them for they lend the deuill their helping hand and striue against true holinesse which hee also striueth against This is not enmitie but amitie in the highest degree Let them looke before hand what the end will be Vse 2 Motiues vnto enmity against the euill spirits And let vs all labour for this enmitie so limited and described as wee haue seene Vsing for spurres and motiues these ensuing considerations First what are those euill spirits vnto God Most vile rebels and deadly enemies Placed at first in a most blisfull estate with God and his holy Angels in the highest heauens but through pride or vnbeleefe or some other act of disobedience they fell away and left their first habitation chusing rather to leaue God and his blessednesse than their owne opinion conceiued of and within themselues And they are still spightfull against his Maiestie oppose his honour resist his counsels and ordinances obscure his glory deface his image on man and trouble the order of the creatures Now what good subiect doth not hate to the death one that is an arrant traitor still practising against his Prince So should we be affected in this case toward this enemie Secondly what are the euill spirits to vs As full of malice as they can hold They tempt vs to euill and disswade vs from good They seeke to corrupt vs in iudgement and molest vs in our worshipping of God They intercept good means and what mercies of God they possibly can They accuse vs and raise vp slanderers persecutors other enemies with stormes and tempests and witches and other mischiefes to disturbe and fret vs and worke vs to impatience blasphemie atheisme as he said of Iob Iob 1.11 Touch him now and hee will blaspheme thee to thy face and so he intended in his owne wickednesse against him vsing also his wife to that purpose chap. 2.9 Doest thou yet retaine thine innocencie blaspheme God and die And there is no possibilitie hee should be better affected to vs therefore hate him Thirdly what are those spirits in themselues Euill onely euill continually euill greedie to doe euill watchfull thereunto and gaping after euery opportunitie to further it They loue neither God nor man no not them that are one with them and obey them in all things They loue nothing properly but sinne and mischiefe This they intend principally fully willingly maliciously Therefore also all their sinnes are sinnes against the holy Ghost therefore can neuer bee pardoned neither in this life nor the life to come They are reprobates held in the chaines of blacke darknesse against the iudgement of the great day Briefly there cannot be the like obiect for our hatred in all the world therefore hate them Fourthly GOD whom we must follow as deare children Eph. 5.1 doth hate them vnreconcileably He hath appointed no Redeemer nor Mediator for them hath made no promise of life to them nor couenant of mercy nor giuen them the least hold of him whereby they might be reconciled But contrarily he hath written in the Scripture the sentence of their condemnation hath nominated his children to bee their Iudges 1 Cor. 6.3 and hath appointed them in the meane time to exercise all hostilitie against the deuill both here and Ephes 4.27 Giue no place to the deuill and Iam. 4.7 Resist the deuill and hee will flie from you and elsewhere Then follow your Captaine Doe as yee see mee doe said Gideon Fiftly the faithfull seruants of God haue still held vp this opposition against him being the Angels of Michael who fought with the dragon and ouercame him Yea they reioyced that the deuils were subdued vnto them Luk. 10.17 see Ephes 6.12 And though good men haue sometimes beene sore shaken and foiled yet they haue got ground againe and recouered their losses and done him the more hurt for his mischiefe against them shaking his kingdome the more manfully Then ioyne with these armies of the Lord and march on with them And know that none is on their side but such as are against God none but carnall and worldly men none but the seed of the serpent the children of the deuill none but they whose example must be odious to vs as hell it selfe Count that fight good which good men maintaine and euill men traiterously let alone or ioyne with the aduersarie Sixtly the hatred of the deuill is the companion if not the ground of true grace God is not loued nor feared nor serued nor any way truly regarded till this enmitie against the deuill bee wrought in the heart Thus the termes of our conuersion are described Act. 26.18 To turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan vnto God And therefore as our Sauiour Christ saith Yee cannot serue God and Mammon Matt. 6.24 and The one must be hated that the other may be embraced so say I that the
deuill must be hated if God must be loued wee cannot loue or serue both together Well a man may play on both sides pretending loue to God while hee doth what the deuill would haue him doe and pretending an hatred of the deuill while he persecuteth the will and worke of God But indeed and in truth he cannot loue God till the deuill be truly and vnfainedly hated And where is no true loue of God there is no true faith nor hope nor patience nor humilitie nor any sound grace whatsoeuer Adde hereunto these meditations We hate lesser enemies and for smaller occasions and why not this for the greatest occasion that can be He spoiled vs of the grace of creation and if hee could would spoile vs of the grace of regeneration also He cast vs downe from our happie estate wherein wee were first placed and would cast vs downe from that happinesse which Christ hath recouered for vs with the purchase of his owne bloud Beside this enmitie is the beginning of our returne to God and of our reconciliation with him as here to our first parents God loues not vs till wee hate the deuill and that vnfainedly And finally we must know that if wee deceiue our selues with a false hatred in stead of a true the time shall come when wee shall hate the deuill whether we will or no and hate our selues who would be so sillily deluded and shall for euer curse both for he and his angels are cast out and their place is found no more in heauen A Postscript CYPRIAN in his Exhortation to Martyrdome hath these words PArum est c. It is a small matter that wee stirre vp the people of GOD with the Trumpet of our voice vnlesse also by lessons taken out of Gods Word wee strengthen the faith of Beleeuers and their vertue which is dedicated and deuoted vnto GOD. And what doth more suit with our Pastorall care than that by continuall exhortations wee fence the Congregation committed to vs of God and the Armie gathered together in the heauenly camp against the batterie and darts of the deuill For a souldier cannot bee fit for warre if he be not first trained in the field And hee that would get the garland by wrestling yet shall not bee crowned if he doe not first practise and trie his skill and strength It is an old Aduersarie and an ancient Enemie with whom wee must combat Six thousand yeers are almost finished This he wrote about the yeere of the world 5457. Euseb August Oros Sulpit. Scuerus But there seemes to be an error since the deuill did set vpon mankind So that now by his long standing and great experience he hath learned perfectly all sorts of temptations and all the feats and snares of destroying If hee ouertake the souldier of Christ vnprepared or ignorant or not carefull and watchfull with his whole minde he circumuents him vnawares and deceiues him in his simplenesse But if a man keepe the Commandements of God and stoutly cleaue to the footsteps of Christ and then shall withstand resist him he must needs bee ouercome because Christ whom wee professe is inuincible See heere Christian Reader the consent of this ancient Father and glorious Martyr of Christ to the former doctrine If thou receiuest the testimony of man know the testimony of God is greater But bee sure by all these admonitions to buckle on thy harnesse looke for this grand enemie and resist him Leaue this intermedling so much with matters of State and petty aduersaries and attend this principall principally For what will it auaile thee to be free from men and in bondage to the deuill what good to Lord it in earth and be guilty of hell fire to conspire with thine owne deceitfull heart abused by the deuill where the end will bee death eternall and discouer the treacheries of men to their vtter disappointment and disgrace Will this quit cost Call therefore thy thoughts and affectionâ— homeward Looke to thine owne house 2 Sam. 6.20 and blesse it Marke the possessions and strong holds of the strong man and cast him out If he deceiue thee how great is that deceit Thrice vnhappy is that man and more who liues too well knowne to others and dies vnknowne to himselfe It had beene good for that man if he had neuer beene borne One alarme more and so I lay aside my Trumpet Resist the deuill resist resist not scorne but resist and resist him in all wicked motions whatsoeuer resist him by the weapons appointed the armour of God resist him early stoutly vniuersally wisely constantly Bee carefull herein and iealous that thou resistest not aright And remember that thou hast not yet resisted vnto bloud striuing against sin and prouide so to doe The Lord giue thee a heart and courage hereunto and afterward set the crowne of victory on thy head Amen FINIS