Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices

Then & Now · 5 of 44

2. Painting Sin with Virtue’s Colours

2. Painting Sin with Virtue’s Colours

The ſecond Device of Satan to draw69 the ſoule to ſin, is, by painting ſin with vertues colours; Satan knowes, that if he ſhould preſent ſin in its own nature p. 15 and dreſſe, the ſoul would rather fly from it, then yield to it, and therefore he preſents it unto us, not in its owne proper colours, but painted and guilded over with the name and ſhew of vertue, that we may the more eaſily be overcome by it, and take the more pleaſure in committing of it. Pride, he preſents to the ſoul under the name and notion of neatneſſe, and cleanlineſſe; and covetouſneſſe (which the Apoſtle condemns for idolatry) to be but good husbandry, and drunkennes to be good fellowſhip, and riotouſneſſe under the name and notion of liberality, and wantonneſſe as a trick of youth, &c.

  1. 69. 2 Device. [dropped from the edition]

The second device of Satan to draw the soul to sin, is, by painting sin with virtue’s colours; Satan knows, that if he should present sin in its own nature and dress, the soul would rather fly from it, than yield to it, and therefore he presents it unto us, not in its own proper colours, but painted and gilded over with the name and show of virtue, that we may the more easily be overcome by it, and take the more pleasure in committing of it. Pride, he presents to the soul under the name and notion of neatness, and cleanliness; and covetousness (which the apostle condemns for idolatry) to be but good husbandry, and drunkenness to be good fellowship, and riotousness under the name and notion of liberality, and wantonness as a trick of youth, etc‸.

FIrſt, Conſider that ſin is never a whit70 the leſſe filthy, vilde, and abominable, by its being coloured and painted with vertues colours. A poyſonous Pill is never a whit the leſſe poyſonous, becauſe ‘tis gilded over with gold; nor a Wolf is never a whit the leſſe a Wolfe, becauſe he hath put on a ſheeps-skin; nor the Devil is never a whit the leſſe a Devil, becauſe he appears ſomtimes like an Angel of light, ſo neither is ſin any whit the leſſe filthy, and abominable, p. 16 by its being painted over with vertues colours.

  1. 70. 1 Remedy. [dropped from the edition]

First, Consider that sin is never a whit the less filthy, vile, and abominable, by its being coloured and painted with virtue’s colours. A poisonous pill is never a whit the less poisonous, because ’tis gilded over with gold; nor a wolf is never a whit the less a wolf, because he hath put on a sheep’s skin; nor the devil is never a whit the less a devil, because he appears sometimes like an angel of light, so neither is sin any whit the less filthy, and abominable, by its being painted over with virtue’s colours.

The ſecond Remedy is this, That the71 more ſin is painted forth under the colour72 of vertue, the more dangerous ‘tis to the ſouls of men; this we ſee evident in theſe days, by thoſe very many ſouls that are turned out of the way that is holy, (and in which their ſouls have had ſweet and glorious communion with God) into wayes of higheſt vanity and folly, by Satans neat colouring over of ſin, and painting forth vice under the name and colour of vertue; this is ſo notoriouſly knowne, that I need but name it; the moſt dangerous vermine is too often to be found under the faireſt and ſweeteſt Flowers, and the faireſt glove is often drawn upon the fouleſt hand, and the richeſt robes are often put upon the filthieſt bodies: ſo are the faireſt and the ſweeteſt names upon the greateſt, and the moſt horribleſt vices and etrors that be in the world; ah! that we had not too many ſad proofs of this amongſt us.

  1. 71. 2 Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
  2. 72. Turpiora ſunt vitia quae virtutum ſpecie celantur, Jerome. Thus the Illuminates (as they called themſelves) a peſtilent Sect in Arragon, profeſſing and affecting in themſelves a kind of Angelicall purity, fell ſuddenly to the juſtifying of beaſtiality, as many have done in theſe dayes.

The second remedy is this, That the more sin is painted forth under the colour60 of virtue, the more dangerous ’tis to the souls of men; this we see evident in these days, by those very many souls that are turned out of the way that is holy, (and in which their souls have had sweet and glorious communion with God) into ways of highest vanity and folly, by Satan’s neat colouring over of sin, and painting forth vice under the name and colour of virtue; this is so notoriously known, that I need but name it; the most dangerous vermin is too often to be found under the fairest and sweetest flowers, and the fairest glove is often drawn upon the foulest hand, and the richest robes are often put upon the filthiest bodies: so are the fairest and the sweetest names upon the greatest, and the most horriblest vices and errors that be in the world; ah! that we had not too many sad proofs of this amongst us.

  1. 60. Turpiora sunt vitia quae virtutum specie celantur, Jerome. Thus the Illuminates (as they called themselves) a pestilent Sect in Aragon, professing and affecting in themselves a kind of Angelical purity, fell suddenly to the justifying of bestiality, as many have done in these days.

The third Remedy againſt this Device,73 is to look on ſin with that eye,74 which within a few hours we ſhall ſee it; ah ſouls! when you ſhall lye upon a dying bed, and ſtand before a judgement ſeat, ſin ſhall be unmaskt, and its p. 17 dreſſe and robes ſhall then be taken off, and then it ſhall appear more vile, filthy, and terrible then Hell it ſelf; then that which formerly appear’d moſt ſweet, will appear moſt bitter, and that which appear’d moſt beautifull, will appear moſt ugly, and that which appear’d moſt delightful, will then appear moſt dreadfull to the ſoul; ah! the ſhame, the paine, the gall, the bitternes, the horrour, the hell, that the fight of ſin, when its dreſs is taken off, will raiſe in poor ſouls. Sin will ſurely prove evill, and bitter to the ſoul, when its robes are taken off. A man may have the Stone, who feels no fit of it. Conſcience will work at laſt, though for the preſent one may feele no fit of accuſation, Laban75 ſhewed himſelf at parting; ſin will be bitternes in the latter end, when it ſhall appear to the ſoul in its own filthy nature. The Devil deals with men, as the Panther doth with Beaſts, he hides his deformed head, till his ſweet ſent hath drawn them into his danger; till we have ſinned, Satan is a Paraſite, when we have ſinned, he is a Tyrant. Ah ſouls! the day is at hand, when the Devil will pull off the paint and garniſh that he hath put upon ſin, and preſent that monſter ſin in ſuch a monſtrous ſhape to your ſoules, that will cauſe your p. 18 thoughts to be be troubled, your countenance to be changed, the joynts of your loines to be looſed, and your knees to be daſhed one againſt another, and your hearts to be ſo terrified, that you will be ready with Achitophel, and Judas, to ſtrangle, and hang your bodies on earth, and your ſoules in Hell; if the Lord hath not more mercy on you, then he had on them; oh! therefore looke upon ſin now, as you muſt look upon it to all eternity, and as God, Conſcience, and Satan will preſent it to you another day.

  1. 73. 3 Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
  2. 74. Tacitus ſpeaks of Tiberius. that when his ſins did appear in their own colours, they did ſo terrifie and torment him, that he proteſted to the Senate, that he ſuffered death daily.
  3. 75. Satan that now allures thee to ſin, will ere long make thee ſee, that (Peccatum eſt deicidium) ſin is a murthering of God, and this will make thee murther two at once, thy ſoule and thy body, unleſſe the Lord in mercy holds thy hand.

The third remedy against this device, is to look on sin with that eye with61 which within a few hours we shall see it; ah souls! When you shall lie upon a dying bed, and stand before a judgment seat, sin shall be unmasked, and its dress and robes shall then be taken off, and then it shall appear more vile, filthy, and terrible than hell it self; then that which formerly appeared most sweet, will appear most bitter, and that which appeared most beautiful, will appear most ugly, and that which appeared most delightful, will then appear most dreadful to the soul; ah! the shame, the pain, the gall, the bitterness, the horror, the hell, that the sight of sin, when its dress is taken off, will raise in poor souls. Sin will surely prove evil, and bitter to the soul, when its robes are taken off. A man may have the stone, who feels no fit of it. Conscience will work at last, though for the present one may feel no fit of accusation, Laban62 showed himself at parting; sin will be bitterness in the latter end, when it shall appear to the soul in its own filthy nature. The devil deals with men, as the Panther doth with beasts, he hides his deformed head, till his sweet scent hath drawn them into his danger; till we have sinned, Satan is a parasite, when we have sinned, he is a tyrant. Ah souls! The day is at hand, when the devil will pull off the paint and garnish that he hath put upon sin, and present that monster sin in such a monstrous shape to your souls, that will cause your thoughts to be ‸ troubled, your countenance to be changed, the joints of your loins to be loosed, and your knees to be dashed one against another, and your hearts to be so terrified, that you will be ready with Ahithophel, and Judas, to strangle, and hang your bodies on earth, and your souls in hell; if the Lord hath not more mercy on you, than he had on them; oh! therefore look upon sin now, as you must look upon it to all eternity, and as God, conscience, and Satan will present it to you another day.

  1. 61. Tacitus speaks of Tiberius, that when his sins did appear in their own colours, they did so terrify and torment him, that he protested to the Senate, that he suffered death daily.
  2. 62. Satan that now allures thee to sin, will ere long make thee see, that (Peccatum est deicidium) sin is a murdering of God, and this will make thee murder two at once, thy soul and thy body, unless the Lord in mercy holds thy hand.

The fourth Remedie againſt this device76 of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that even theſe very ſins, that Satan paints, and puts new names and colours77 upon, coſt the beſt blood, the nobleſt blood, the life-blood, the heartblood of the Lord Jeſus; that Chriſt ſhould come from the eternall boſome of his Father to a Region of ſorrow, and death; that God ſhould be manifeſted in the fleſh, the Creator made a Creature; that he that was cloathed with glory ſhould be wrapped with raggs of fleſh; he that filled heaven and earth with his glory, ſhould be cradled in a manger; that the power of God ſhould flie from weak man, the God of Iſrael into Aegypt; that the God of p. 19 the Law ſhould be ſubject to the Law;78 the God of Circumciſion circumciſed; the God that made the Heavens working at Joſephs homely trade; that he that bindes the Devills in chaines ſhould be tempted; that he whoſe is the world, and the fulneſſe thereof, ſhould hunger and thirſt; that the God of ſtrength ſhould be weary, the Judge of all fleſh condemned, the God of life put to death; that he that is one with his Father, ſhould cry out of miſery, my God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken mee; that he that had the keyes of Hell and death at his girdle, ſhould lie impriſon’d in the ſepulcher of another, having in his life time, no where to lay his head, nor after death, to lay his body; that that head, before which the Angels doe caſt down their Crowns, ſhould be crowned with thornes; and thoſe eyes, purer then the Sun, put out by the darkneſſe of death; thoſe eares, which hear nothing but Hallelujahs of Saints and Angels, to hear the blaſphemies of the multitude; that face, that was fairer then the Sons of men, to be ſpit on by thoſe beaſtly wretched Jewes; that mouth and tongue, that ſpake as never man ſpake, accuſed for blaſphemy; thoſe hands that freely ſwayed the Scepter of Heaven, nailed p. 20 to the Croſſe; thoſe feet like unto fine braſſe, nailed to the Croſſe for mans ſins; each ſenſe annoyed, his feeling, or touching with a ſpeare and nailes;79 his ſmell with ſtinking ſavour, being crucified about Golgatha, the place of Skulls; his taſte with vinegar and gall; his hearing with reproaches; and ſight with his mother and Diſciples bemoaning him; his ſoule comfortleſſe, and forſaken; and all this for thoſe very ſins that Satan paints, and puts fine colours upon; oh how ſhould the conſideration of this ſtir up the ſoule againſt it, and worke the ſoule to flie from it, and to uſe all holy meanes, whereby ſin may be ſubdued, and deſtroyed. After Julius Caeſar was murdered, Antonius brought forth his coat all bloody, and cut, and laid it before the people, ſaying, look, here you have your Emperours coat thus bloody, and torne; whereupon the people were preſently in an uproar, and cryed out to ſlay thoſe murderers, and they tooke their tables and ſtooles that were in the place, and ſet them on fire, and ran to the houſes of them that had ſlam Caeſar, and burnt them: ſo when we conſider that ſin hath ſlaine our Lord Jeſus, ah! how ſhould it provoke our hearts to be revenged on ſin, that p. 21 hath murdered the Lord of Glory, and80 hath done that miſchief, that all the Devills in Hell could never have done. ‘Twas good counſell one gave; never let goe out of your mindes, the thoughts of a crucified Chriſt; let theſe be meat and drinke unto you, let them be your ſweetneſſe, and conſolation; your honey, and your deſire; your reading, and your meditation; your life, death, and reſurrection.

  1. 76. 4. Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
  2. 77. Vna guttula plus valet quam coelum & terra Luther i. e. one little drop (ſpeaking of the blood of Chriſt) is more worth then Heaven and Earth.
  3. 78. One of the Rabbins, when he read what bitter torments the Meſſias ſhould ſuffer, when he came into the world, cryed out Veniat Meſſias at ego non videam i. e. Let the Meſſias come, but let not me ſee him. Dionyſius being in Aegypt at the time of Chriſts ſuffering, and ſeeing an Eclipſe of the Sun, and knowing it to be contrary to nature, cryed out (aut Deus naturae patitur aut mundi machina diſſolvitur) Either the God of Nature ſuffered, or the frame of the world will be dlſſolved.
  4. 79. ‘Tis an excellent ſaying of Bernard (quanto pro nobis vilior tanto nobis charior) the more vilde Chriſt made himſelf for us, the more dear he ought to be to us.
  5. 80. Nolo vivere ſine vulnere cum te video vulneratum. Oh my God! as long as I ſee thy wounds, I will never live without wound, ſaith Bonaventure.

The fourth remedy against this device of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that even these very sins, that Satan paints, and puts new names and colours63 upon, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood of the Lord Jesus; that Christ should come from the eternal bosom of his Father to a region of sorrow, and death; that God should be manifested in the flesh, the Creator made a creature; that he that was clothed with glory should be wrapped with rags of flesh; he that filled heaven and earth with his glory, should be cradled in a manger; that the power of God should fly from weak man, the God of Israel into Egypt; that the God of the law should be subject to the law;64 the God of circumcision circumcised; the God that made the heavens working at Joseph’s homely trade; that he that binds the devils in chains should be tempted; that he whose is the world, and the fulness thereof, should hunger and thirst; that the God of strength should be weary, the Judge of all flesh condemned, the God of life put to death; that he that is one with his Father, should cry out of misery, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me; that he that had the keys of hell and death at his girdle, should lie imprisoned in the sepulchre of another, having in his life time, no where to lay his head, nor after death, to lay his body; that that head, before which the angels do cast down their crowns, should be crowned with thorns; and those eyes, purer than the sun, put out by the darkness of death; those ears, which hear nothing but Hallelujahs of saints and angels, to hear the blasphemies of the multitude; that face, that was fairer than the Sons of men, to be spit on by those beastly wretched Jews; that mouth and tongue, that spake as never man spake, accused for blasphemy; those hands that freely swayed the sceptre of heaven, nailed to the cross; those feet like unto fine brass, nailed to the cross for man’s sins; each sense annoyed, his feeling, or touching with a spear and nails;65 his smell with stinking savour, being crucified about Golgotha, the place of Skulls; his taste with vinegar and gall; his hearing with reproaches; and sight with his mother and disciples bemoaning him; his soul comfortless, and forsaken; and all this for those very sins that Satan paints, and puts fine colours upon; oh how should the consideration of this stir up the soul against it, and work the soul to fly from it, and to use all holy means, whereby sin may be subdued, and destroyed. After Julius Caesar was murdered, Antonius brought forth his coat all bloody, and cut, and laid it before the people, saying, look, here you have your emperor’s coat thus bloody, and torn; whereupon the people were presently in an uproar, and cried out to slay those murderers, and they took their tables and stools that were in the place, and set them on fire, and ran to the houses of them that had slain Caesar, and burnt them: so when we consider that sin hath slain our Lord Jesus, ah! how should it provoke our hearts to be revenged on sin, that hath murdered the Lord of glory, and66 hath done that mischief, that all the devils in hell could never have done. ’Twas good counsel one gave; never let go out of your minds, the thoughts of a crucified Christ; let these be meat and drink unto you, let them be your sweetness, and consolation; your honey, and your desire; your reading, and your meditation; your life, death, and resurrection.

  1. 63. Una guttula plus valet quam coelum & terra. Luther, i. e. one little drop (speaking of the blood of Christ) is more worth than Heaven and Earth.
  2. 64. One of the Rabbins, when he read what bitter torments the Messias should suffer, when he came into the world, cried out Veniat Messias et ego non videam i. e. Let the Messias come, but let not me see him. Dionysius being in Egypt at the time of Christ’s suffering, and seeing an Eclipse of the Sun, and knowing it to be contrary to nature, cried out (aut Deus naturae patitur aut mundi machina dissolvitur) Either the God of Nature suffers, or the frame of the world will be dissolved.
  3. 65. ’Tis an excellent saying of Bernard (quanto pro nobis vilior tanto nobis charior) the more vile Christ made himself for us, the more dear he ought to be to us.
  4. 66. Nolo vivere sine vulnere cum te video vulneratum. Oh my God! as long as I see thy wounds, I will never live without wound, saith Bonaventure.