by him It alludes to a Bird that is taken alive in the Snare thus you see he is the Evil one The Devils work is to angle for mens Souls he lays suitable Baits He allures the ambitious Man with Honour the covetous Man with Riches he hooks his Baits with Silver he allures the lustful Man with Beauty he tempts Men to Delila's Lap to keep them from Abraham's Bosom The Devil glories in the Damnation of Souls how needful then is this Prayer Deliver us from Evil. Lord keep us from the Evil One. Tho' Satan may sollicite us to sin suffer us not to give Consent Tho' he may Assault the Castle of our Hearts yet let us not deliver up the Keys of the Castle to our mortal Enemy 3. In this Petition Deliver us from Evil we pray to be delivered from the Evil of the World 'T is call'd an Evil World Gal. 1.4 not but that the World as God made it is Good but through our Corruption it becomes Evil and we had need pray deliver us from an Evil World Quest. In what Sence is it Saeculum malum an Evil World Answ. 1. As it is a defiling World 'T is like living in an infectious Air it requires an high degree of Grace to keep our selves unspotted from the World Iam. 1.27 'T is as hard to live in the World and not be defiled as to go much in the Sun and not be tanned 1. The Opinions of the World are defiling that a little Religion will serve the turn like Leaf-Gold it must be spread but thin That Morality runs parallel with Grace that to be Zealous is to be Righteous over-much That it is better to keep the skin whole than the Conscience Pure That the Flesh is rather to be gratified than mortified These Opinions of the World are defiling 2. The Examples of the World are defiling Examples have a great Force in them to draw us to Evil. Princeps imperio magnus exemplo major Princes are Looking-Glasses which we dress our selves by if they do Evil we are apt to imitate them Great Men are Copies we set before us and usually we write most like the Copy when it is blotted there 's a great Proneness in us to follow the Examples of the World Therefore God hath put in a Caveat against it Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do Evil. How easily are we hurried to sin when we have the Tide of Natural Corruption and the wind of Example to carry us Lot was the worlds Wonder the Complexion of his Soul kept Pure in Sodoms infectious Air. The River of Peru in America after it hath run into the main Sea keeps fresh and doth not mingle with the salt Waters To this River might Lot be compared whose Piety kept fresh in Sodoms salt Water Bad Examples are catching Psal. 106.35 They were mingled among the Heathen and Learned their Works Had not we need then pray Lord deliver us from this Evil World Living in the World is like travelling in a dirty Road. 2. It is an evil World as it is an insnaring World The World 's full of Snares Company is a snare Recreation a snare Oaths are snares Riches are golden snares Opes irritamenta malorum The Apostle speaks of the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life 1 Ioh. 2.16 The Lust of the Flesh is Beauty the Lust of the Eye is Money the Pride of Life is Honour these are the natural Mans Trinity In mundo splendor Opum Gloriae Majestas Voluptatum illecebrae ab amore Dei nos abstrahunt The World is a flattering Enemy whom it kisses it oft betrays it is a silken Halter the Pleasures of the World like Opium cast men into the sleep of Security Lysimachus sold his Crown for a draught of Water so many part with Heaven for the World It is an ensnaring World the King of Armenia was sent Prisoner to Queen Cleopatra in Golden Fetters Too many are inslaved with the worlds golden Fetters the World bewitch'd Demas 2 Tim. 4.10 One of Christs own Apostles was caught with a silver Bait. 'T is hard to drink the Wine of Prosperity and not be giddy Thus the World through our innate Corruption is Evil as it is a Snare 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare If an Angel were to live here there were no danger of the Worlds insnaring him because he hath no Principle within to receive the Temptation but we have a Corrupt Principle that suits with the Temptation and that makes us always in Danger 3. It is an evil World as it is a discouraging World It casts Scorn and Reproach upon them who live vertuously what you will be holier than others Wiser than your Ancestors The World deals with the Professors of Religion as Sanballat did with the Iews when they were building Nehem. 4.1 He mocked the Jews and said What do thâ—se feeble Jews will they Fortifie themselves will they revive the Stones out of the heaps of Rubbish that are burnt So the wicked World casts out Squibs of Reproach at the godly what will ye build for Heaven What needs all this Cost What Profit is it to serve the Almighty Thus the World would pluck off our Chariot-Wheels when we are driving towards Heaven they are called Cruel Mockings Heb. 11.36 It requires a great measure of Sanctity to with-stand the Discouragements of the World to dance among Serpents to laugh at Reproaches and bind them as a Crown about our Head 4. It is an evil World as it is a deadning World It dulls and deadneth the Affections to Heavenly Objects The World cools Holy Motions like a Damp in a silver Mine which puts out the Light Earthly things choke the Seed of the Word A man intangled in the World is so taken up about secular Concerns that he can no more mind the things above than the earth can ascend or the Elephant fly in the Air. And even such as have Grace in them yet when their Affections are belimed with the Earth they find themselves much indisposed to Meditation and Prayer 't is like swimming with a Stone about the Neck 5. 'T is an evil World as it is a maligning World It doth disgust and hate the people of God Iohn 15.19 Because ye are not of the World therefore the World hateth you Hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Aristotle saith against the whole Kind Hamans hatred was against the Seed of the whole Iews When you can find a Serpent without a Sting or a Leopard without Spots then you may expect to find a wicked World without Hatred the White that is shot at is Piety Psal. 38.20 They are mine Adversaries because I follow the thing that Good is The World pretends to hate the Godly for something else but the ground of the Quarrel is Holiness The Worlds Hatred is Implacable Anger may be reconciled Hatred cannot You may as well reconcile Heaven and Hell as
Resp. Seek to God for it It is his Promise to give an Heart of Flesh Ezek. 36. and to pour on us a Spirit of Mourning Zech. 12.10 Beg God's Holy Spirit Psal. 147.18 He causeth his Wind to blow and the Waters flow When the Wind of God's Spirit blows upon us then the Waters of Repentant Tears will flow from us III. The Third way to escape the Wrath and Curse of God and obtain the Benefit of Redemption by Christ is The diligent Vse of Ordinances In particular the Word Sacraments and Prayer 1. I begin with the First of these Ordinances I. The Word 1 Thess. 2.13 which effectually worketh in you that believe Quest. 1. What is meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Words working effectually Resp. The Word of God is said to work effectually when it hath that good effect upon us for which it was appointed of God namely when the Word works powerful Illumination and thorough Reformation Acts 26.18 To open their Eyes and turn them from the power of Satan to God The opening their Eyes denotes Illumination And turning them from Satan to God denotes Reformation Quest. 2. How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to Salvation This Question consists of Two Branches 1. How may the Word be read Effectually 2. How may it be heard Effectually 1. I shall begin with the First Branch of the Question How is the Word to be read that it may be effectual to our Salvation Answ. That we may so read the Word that it may conduce effectually to our Salvation 1. Let us have a Reverend Esteem of every part of Canonical Scripture Psal. 19.10 More are they to be desired than Gold Value this Book of God above all other Books It is a Golden Epistle endited by the Holy Ghost sent to us from Heaven more particularly to raise our Esteem 1. The Scripture is a Spiritual Glass to dress our Souls by it shows us more than we can see by the Light of a Natural Conscience that may discover gross Sins but the Glass of the Word shâ—ws us Heart-Sins Vain Thoughts Unbelief c. And it not only shows us our Spots but washeth them away 2. The Scripture is a Sacred Magazine out of which we may fetch our Spiritual Artillery to fight against Satan When the Devil tempted our Saviour he fetch'd Armour and Weapons from Scripture It is written Matth. 4.4 7. 3. The Holy Scripture is a Panacea or Universal Medicine for the Soul it gives a Receipt to cure Deadness of Heart Psal. 119.50 Pride 1 Pet. 5.5 Infideliâ—y Iohn 3.36 It is a Physick-Garden where we may gather any Herb or Antidote to expell the Poyson of sin The Leaves of Scripture like the Leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the Nations Rev. 22.2 And may not this cause a reverend Esteem of the Word 2. If we would have the Word written effectual to our Souls let us peruse it with Intenseness of Mind Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to search as for a Vein of Silver The Bereans Acts 17. searched the 〈…〉 daily The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to make a curious and critical Search And 〈◊〉 was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 Some gallop over a Chapter 〈…〉 and get no good by it If we would have the Word effectual and saving we must mind and observe every Passage of Scripture And that we may be diâ—igent in the perusal of Scripture Consider First The Word written is Norma Cultus the Rule and Platform by which we are to square our Lives it contains in it all things needful to Salvation Psal. 19.7 What Duties we are to do what Sins we are to avoid God gave Moses a Pattern how he would have the Tabernacle made and he was to go exactly according to the Pattern Exod. 25.9 The Word is the Pattern God hath given us in Writing for modelling our Lives therefore how careful should we be in the pursuing and looking over this Pattern Secondly The Written Word as it is our Pattern so it will be our Iudge Iohn 12.48 The Word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last Day We read of the opening of the Books Rev. 20.12 This is one Book God will open the Book of Scripture and will judge Men out of it He will say Have you lived according to the Rule of this Word The Word hath a double Work to Teach and to Iudge 3. If we would have the Word written effectual we must bring Faith to the reading of it Believe it to be the Word of the Eternal Iehovah The Word written comes with Authority it shews its Commission from Heaven Thus saith the Lord It is of Divine Inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 The Oracles of Scripture must be surer to us than a Voice from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.18 Unbelief enervates the Vertue of Scripture and renders it ineffectual First Men question the Truth of the Scripture and then fall away from it 4. If we would have the Word written effectual to Salvation we must delight in it as our Spiritual Cordial Ier. 15.16 Thy Words were found and I did eat them and they were the joy and rejoycing of my Heart All true solid Comfort is fetch'd out of the Word The Word as Chrysostom saith is a Spiritual Garden and the Promises are the Fragrant Flowers or Spices in this Garden How should we delight to walk among these Beds of Spices Is it not a Comfort in all dubious perplext Cases to have a Counsellor to advise us Psal. 119.24 Thy Testimonies are my Counsellors Is it not a Comfort to find our Evidences for Heaven and where should we find them but in the Word 1 Thess. 1.4 5. The Word written is a Sovereign Elixir or Comfort in an hour of Distress Psal. 119.50 This is my Comfort in Afflictions for thy Word hath quickned me It can turn all our Water into Wine How should we take a great Complacency and Delight in the Word They only who come to the Word with Delight go from it with Success 5. If we would have the Scripture effectual and saving we must be sure when we have read the Word to hide it in our Hearts Psal. 119.11 Thy Word have I hid in my Heart The Word locked up in the Heart is a Preservative against sin Why did David hide the Word in his Heart In the next Words That I might not sin against thee As one would carry an Antidote about him when he comes near a place infected so David carried the Word in his Heart as a Sacred Antidote to preserve him from the Infection of Sin When the Sap is hid in the Root it makes the Branches fruitful When the Seed is hid in the Ground then the Corn springs up So when the Word is hid in the Heart then it brings forth good Fruit. 6. If we would have the Word written effectual let us labour
Thief this may cause a spring of Tears Infer 4. See hence a Christians Life is no easie life it is Military he hath a Goliah in the field to Encounter with one that is arm'd with Power and Subtilty he hath his Wiles and Darts A Christian must be continually Watching and Fighting Satans Designs carry death in the Front 1 Pet. 5.8 Seeking whom he he may devour Therefore we had need be always with our Weapons in our hand How few think their Life a warfare Tho' they have an Enemy in the field that is always laying of Snares or shooting of Darts yet they do not stand Sentinel or get their spiritual Artillery ready They put on their Iewels but not their Armour Iob 21.12 They take the Tymbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ as if they were rather in Musick than in Battle Many are asleep in sloth when they should be fighting against Satan and no wonder the Devil shoots them when he finds them asleep Use 2. It reproves them who pray Lead us not into Temptation yet run themselves into Temptation Such are they who go to Plays and Masquerades and hunt after strange Flesh. Some go a slower pace to Hell but such as run themselves into Temptation these go galloping thither we have too many of these in this debauch'd Age who as if they thought they could not sin fast enough tempt the Devil to tempt them Vse 3. Exhortation Let us labour that we be not overcome by temptation Quest. What means may be used that Satans Temptations may not prevail against us Resp. 1. Avoid Solitariness It is no Wisdom in fighting with an Enemy to give him the Advantage of the Ground we give Satan Advantage of the Ground when we are alone Eve was foiled in the Absence of her Husband a Virgin is not so soon set upon in company Eccles. 4 10. Two are better than one Get into the Communion of Saints and that is a good Remedy against Temptation 2. If you would not be overcome of Temptation beware of the Predominancy of Melancholy This is Atra bilis a black Humour seated chiefly in the Brain Melancholy disturbs Reason and exposeth to Temptation One calls Melancholy Balneum Diaboli the Devils Bath he baths himself with Delight in such a Person Melancholy clothes the Mind in Sable it fills it with such dismal Apprehensions as oft end in self-murder 3. If you would not be overcome of Temptation study Sobriety 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober because your Adversary walketh about Sober-mindedness consists in the moderate use of earthly Things an immoderate desire of these things oft brings men into the snare of the Devil 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into a Snare He who loves Riches inordinately will purchase them unjustly Ahab would swim to Naboâ—hs Vineyard in Blood He who is drunk with the Love of the World is never free from Temptation he will pull down his Soul to build up an Estate Quid non mortalia pectora cogis auri sacra fames Be sober take heed of being drunk with the love of the World lest ye fall into Temptation 4. Be always upon your Guard watch against Satans Wiles and Subtilties 1 Pet. 5.8 Be vigilant because your Adversary the Devil walks about A Christian must Excubias agere keep Watch and Ward See where Satan labours to make a Breach see what Grace he most strikes at or what sin he most tempts to Mark 13.37 I say to you all Watch. Watch all the Sences the Eye the Ear the Touch Satan can creep in here O how needful is the spiritual Watch shall Satan be watchful and we drowsie Doth he watch to devour us and shall not we watch to save our selves Let us see what sin our Heart most naturally inclines to and watch against this 5. Beware of Idleness Satan sows most of his seed in fallow Ground it was Hieroms Counsel to his Friend to be ever busied that if the Devil did come he might find him working in the Vineyard Idleness tempts the Devil to tempt the Bird that sits still is shot he that wants Employment never wants Temptation When a man hath nothing to do Satan will bring Grist to the Mill and find him work enough 6. Make known thy Case to some godly Friend The hiding a Serpent in the Bosom is not the way to be safe When the old Serpent hath gotten into your Bosom by a Temptation do not hide him there by keeping his Counsel If a spark be got into the Thatch it is not Wisdom to conceal it it may set the House on fire conceal not Temptation The keeping of Secrets is for familiar Friends be not so great a friend to Satan as to keep his secrets Reveal your Temptations which is the way to procure others Prayer and Advice Let all see that you are not true to Satans Party because you tell all his Plots and reveal his Treasons Besides the telling our Case to some Experienced Christian is the way to have ease as the opening a Vein gives ease so the opening our Case to a Friend gives ease to the Soul and a Temptation doth not so much inflame 7. Make use of the Word This the Apostle calls the Sword of the Spirit Ephes. 6.17 a fit Weapon to fight against the Tempter This Sword of the Spirit is Gladius anceps a Two-edged Sword it wounds carnal Lust and it wounds Satan He who travels a Road where there is Robbing will be sure to ride with his Sword We are travelling to Heaven and in this Road there is a Thief will always beset us Satan is in every place where we go He meets us at Church he doth not miss a Sermon he will be tempting us there sometimes to Drowsiness when you sleep at a Sermon the Devil rocks you a-sleep sometimes he tempts by distracting the Mind in Hearing Sometimes he tempts to question the Truth of what you hear thus we meet with the Tempter at Church and he tempts in the shop he tempts you to use Collusion and Deceit Hos. 12.7 The Ballances of Deceit are in his Hand So that we meet with the Tempter every where therefore this Thief being in the Road we had need ride with a Sword we must have the Sword of the Spirit about us We must have skill to use this Sword and have an Heart to draw it out and this Sword will put the Devil to flight Thus our Blessed Saviour when Satan tempted him to Distrust and Blasphemy he used a Scripture Weapon It is written Three times Christ wounded the old Serpent with this Sword Christ could with his Power and Authority have rebuked the Prince of the Air as he did the Winds but he stops the Devils Mouth with Scripture It is written It is not our Vows or Resolutions will do it it is not the Papists holy-Holy-Water or Charms will drive away the Devil but let us bring the Word of God against him this is such an Argument
cast his skin but he eats it up again In this be not like the Serpent to forsake Sin and then take it up again 2 Pet. 2.22 It is happened according to the Proverb the Dog is returned to his own Vomit again such were Demas and Iulian. Many after a Divorce espouse their Sins again as if one's Ague should leave him a while and then come again The Devil seemed to be cast out but comes the second Time and the end of that Man is worse than his beginning Luk. 11.24 because his Sin is greater he sins knowingly and wilfully and his Damnation will be greater 10. Serpents are great Lovers of Wine Pliny who writes of Natural History saith if Serpents come where Wine is they drink insatiably In this be not like the Serpent though the Scripture allows the use of Wine 1 Tim. 5.23 yet it forbids the excess Eph. 5.18 Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess be not like the Serpents in this Lovers of Wine Because this Sin of Drunkenness doth so abound in this Age I shall enlarge something more on this Head 'T is said of the Old World They eat they drank till the Flood came Luk. 17.27 Drinking is not a Sin but the meaning is they drank to intemperance they disordered themselves with Drink and God let them have Liquor enough first they were drowned in Wine and then in Water There is no Sin which doth more deface God's Image than Drunkenness it disguiseth a Person and doth even unman him Drunkenness makes him have the Throat of a Fish the Belly of a Swine and the Head of an Ass Drunkenness is the Shame of Nature the Extinguisher of Reason the Shipwrack of Chastity and the Murder of Conscience Drunkenness is hurtful for the Body The Cup kills more than the Cannon it causeth Dropsies Catarrhs Apoplexies Drunkenness fills the Eyes with Fire and the Legs with Water and turns the Body into an Hospital but the greatest hurt is that it doth to the Soul Excess of Wine breeds the Worm of Conscience The Drunkard is seldom reclaimed by repentance and the ground of it is partly because by this Sin the Senses are so inchanted Reason so impaired and Lust so inflamed and partly it is judicial the Drunkard being so besotted with this Sin God saith of him as of Ephraim Hos. 4.17 Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone so this Man is joyned to his Cups let him alone let him drown himself in Liquor till he scorch himself in Fire How many Woes hath God pronounced against this Sin Isa. 28.1 Woe to the Drunkards of Ephraim Joel 1.5 Howl ye Drinkers of Wine Drunkenness excludes a Person from Heaven 1 Cor. 6.10 Drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of God A Man cannot go to Heaven reeling King Solomon makes an oration full of Invectives against this Sin Prov. 23.29 Who hath Woe Who hath Contentions Who hath Babling Who hath redness of Eyes they that tarry long at the Wine Who hath Contentions Drink when abused breeds Quarrels it causeth Duels Who hath Babling When one is in Drink his Tongue runs he will reveal any Secrets of his Friend Who hath redness of Eyes Redness of Eyes comes sometimes from Weeping but too often from drinking And what is the Issue verse 32. at last the Wine bites like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder The Wine smiles in the Glass but stings in the Conscience Drunkenness is a Sin against all the Ten Commandments 1. Drunkenness casts off the true God Hos. 4.11 Wine takes away the Heart It takes the Heart off from God 2. It makes the Belly a God Phil. 3.19 To this the Drunkard pours Drink-Offerings there 's a breach of the Second Commandment 3. The Drunkard in his Cups takes God's Name in Vain by his Oaths 4. The Drunkard makes no difference of Days he is seldom sober on a Sabbath he on that Day worships Bacchus 5. The Drunkard Honours neither his Natural Father nor the Magistrate his Civil Father he will be intemperate though the Laws of the Land forbid it 6. The Drunkard commits Murder Alexander killed his Friend Clitus when he was Drunk for whom he would have given half his Kingdom when he was Sober 7. The Drunkard's Wine provokes Lust. Austin calls Wine Fomentum libidinis the Inflamer of Lust. Nunquam ego ebrium castum putavi I never did believe a drunken Man to be chast saith St. Hierom. 8. The Drunkard is a Thief he spends that Money upon his drunken Lust which should have been given to charitable Uses so he robs the Poor 9. The Drunkard is a Slanderer he cares not when he is on the Ale Bench how he doth defame and belye others when he hath taken his full Cups he is now fit to take a false Oath 10. The Drunkard Sins against the Tenth Commandment for he Covets to get another's Estate by Circumvention and Extortion that he may be the better able to follow his drunken Trade Thus he Sins against all the Ten Commandments If this Sin of Drunkenness be not reformed I pray God the Sword be not made Drunk with Blood And whereas some will go to shift off this Sin from themselves that they are no Drunkards because they have not drunk away their Reason and Senses they are not so far gone in drink that they cannot go He is a Drunkard in the Scripture-sence who is mighty to drink Wine Isa. 5.22 He is a Drunkard saith Solomon that tarries long at the Wine Prov. 23.30 He who sits at it from Morning to Night that drinks away his precious Time though he doth not drink away his Reason he is a Drunkard that drinks more than doth him good and that though he be not himself drunk yet he makes another drunk Hab. 2.15 Woe to him that gives his Neighbour drink that puttest thy Bottle to him and makest him drunk Oh! I beseech you be not in this like the Serpent Lovers of Wine This I fear is one cause why the Word Preached doth so little good on many in this City they drink away Sermons they do as the hunted Deer when it is wounded runs to the Water and drinks so when they have been at a Sermon and the Arrow of Reproof hath wounded their Conscience they run presently and drink away those Convictions they steep the Sermon in Wine The Tavern-Bell doth more hurt than the Sermon Bell doth good Thus you have seen wherein we should not be like Serpents II. Wherein we should be like the Serpent and that is in Prudence and Wisdom Be ye Wise as Serpents The Serpent is a most prudent Creature therefore the Devil made use of the Serpent to deceive our First Parents because it was such a subtile Creature Gen. 3.1 The Serpent was more subtile than any Beast of the Field There is a Natural Wisdom and Subtilty in every part of the Serpent and we should labour to imitate them and be Wise as Serpents First The Serpent hath a subtilty in his