Then & Now · 38 of 44
The Reasons of the Point
The Reasons of the Point
THe firſt Reaſon is, that their hearts832 may be kept in an humble, praying,833 watching frame; oh! hath Satan ſo many devices to enſnare, and undoe the ſoules of men? how ſhould this awaken dull, drowſie ſoules, and make them ſtand upon their watch? A Saint ſhould be like a Seraphim, beſet all over with eyes and lights, that he may avoid Satans ſnares, and ſtand faſt in the hour of temptation. The Lord hath in the Scripture diſcovered the ſeveral ſnares, plots, and devices that the Delill hath to undo the ſoules of men, that ſo being forwarn’d, they may be forearm’d, that they may be alwayes upon their watch-tower, and hold their weapons in their hands, as the Iewes did in Nehemiah’s time, &c.
The first Reason is, that their hearts may be kept in an humble, praying,659 watching frame; oh! hath Satan so many devices to ensnare, and undo the souls of men? How should this awaken dull, drowsy souls, and make them stand upon their watch? A saint should be like a Seraphim, beset all over with eyes and lights, that he may avoid Satan’s snares, and stand fast in the hour of temptation. The Lord hath in the Scripture discovered the several snares, plots, and devices that the Devil hath to undo the souls of men, that so being forewarned, they may be forearmed, that they may be always upon their watch-tower, and hold their weapons in their hands, as the Jews did in Nehemiah’s time, etc‸.
- 659. The Philosopher had a ball of brass in his hand, which if he chanced to sleep with, the fall into a basin awaked him to his studies; You are wise: and know how to apply it.
The ſecond Reaſon is, from that malice,834 envy, and enmity that is in Satan,835 againſt the ſouls of men; Satan is full of envy and enmity, & that makes him very ſtudious, to ſuit his ſnares and plots to the tempers, conſtitutions, fancies, p. 328 and callings of men, that ſo hee may make them as miſerable as himſelf. The Ruſſians are ſo malicious, that you ſhall have a man hide ſome of his own goods in the houſe of him, whom he hateth, and then accuſe him for the ſtealth of them: ſo doth Satan out of malice to836 the ſoules of men, hide his goods, his wares, as I may ſay, in the ſoules of men, and then goe, and accuſe them before the Lord, and a thouſand, thouſand other wayes Satans malice, envy, and enmity puts him upon, eternally to undoe the precious ſoules of men, &c.
The second Reason is, from that malice, envy, and enmity that is in Satan,660 against the souls of men; Satan is full of envy and enmity, and that makes him very studious, to suit his snares and plots to the tempers, constitutions, fancies, and callings of men, that so he may make them as miserable as himself. The Russians are so malicious, that you shall have a man hide some of his own goods in the house of him, whom he hateth, and then accuse him for the stealth of them: so doth Satan out of malice to661 the souls of men, hide his goods, his wares, as I may say, in the souls of men, and then go, and accuse them before the Lord, and a thousand, thousand other ways Satan’s malice, envy, and enmity puts him upon, eternally to undo the precious souls of men, etc‸.
The third Reaſon is drawn from that837 long experience that Satan hath had, he is a ſpirit of mighty abilities, and his abilities to lay ſnares before us, are mightily increaſed by that long ſtanding of his; hee is a ſpirit of above five thouſand yeares ſtanding; he hath had time enough to ſtudie all thoſe wayes, and methods, which tend moſt to enſnare, and undo the ſouls of men: And as he hath time enough, ſo he hath made it his whole ſtudy, his only ſtudy, his conſtant ſtudy to find out ſnares, depths and ſtratagems, to entangle, and overthrow the ſoules of men; when he was but a young Serpent, he did eaſily deceive, and out-wit our firſt Parents, but now he is grown that Old Serpent, as838 p. 329 John ſpeakes, Hee is as olde as the world,839 and is grown uery cunning by experience.
The third Reason is drawn from that long experience that Satan hath had, he is a spirit of mighty abilities, and his abilities to lay snares before us, are mightily increased by that long standing of his; he is a spirit of above five thousand years standing; he hath had time enough to study all those ways, and methods, which tend most to ensnare, and undo the souls of men: And as he hath time enough, so he hath made it his whole study, his only study, his constant study to find out snares, depths and stratagems, to entangle, and overthrow the souls of men; when he was but a young serpent, he did easily deceive, and out-wit our first parents, but now he is grown that Old serpent, as662 John speaks, He is as old as the world,663 and is grown very cunning by experience.
The fourth Reaſon is, in Judgement840 to the men of the world, that they may ſtumble, and fall, and be enſnared for ever; wicked men that withſtand the offers of mercy, and deſpiſe the ſpirit of grace; that will not open, though God knocks never ſo hard by his word, and rod; by his Spirit, and conſceience, are given up by a hand of Juſtice, to be841 hardned, deceived, and enſnared by Satan to their everlaſting ruine; and what can be more juſt, then that they ſhould be taken, and charmed with Satans wiles, who have frequently refuſed to be charmed by the Spirit of grace, though he hath charmed never ſo wiſely, and never ſo ſweetly, &c.
The fourth Reason is, in judgment to the men of the world, that they may stumble, and fall, and be ensnared for ever; wicked men that withstand the offers of mercy, and despise the spirit of grace; that will not open, though God knocks never so hard by his word, and rod; by his Spirit, and conscience, are given up by a hand of justice, to be664 hardened, deceived, and ensnared by Satan to their everlasting ruin; and what can be more just, than that they should be taken, and charmed with Satan’s wiles, who have frequently refused to be charmed by the Spirit of grace, though he hath charmed never so wisely, and never so sweetly, etc‸.
- 664. 1 Kgs 22:‸22. ‸
The fifth Reaſon is, That the excellency,842 and power of Gods grace may be the more illuſtrated, and manifeſted, by making man able to grapple with this mighty Adverſary, and that notwithſtanding all the plots, devices, and ſtratagems of Satan; yet he will make them victorious here, and crown them with glory hereafter; the greater, and the ſubtiler the enemies of the children of Iſrael were, the more did divine power, wiſdome, and goodneſſe ſparkle, p. 330 and ſhine; that notwithſtanding, all their power, plots, and ſtratagems, &c. yet to Canan he would bring them at laſt. When Paul had well weighed this, he ſits downe, and glories in his infirmities,843 and diſtreſſes, and Satans buffetings, that the power of Chriſt might reſt upon him.
The fifth Reason is, That the excellency, and power of God’s grace may be the more illustrated, and manifested, by making man able to grapple with this mighty adversary, and that notwithstanding all the plots, devices, and stratagems of Satan; yet he will make them victorious here, and crown them with glory hereafter; the greater, and the subtiler the enemies of the children of Israel were, the more did divine power, wisdom, and goodness sparkle, and shine; that notwithstanding, all their power, plots, and stratagems, etc‸. Yet to Canaan he would bring them at last. When Paul had well weighed this, he sits down, and glories in his infirmities,665 and distresses, and Satan’s buffetings, that the power of Christ might rest upon him.
- 665. 2 Cor‸ 12:‸7, 8, 9.