66o ~pir itual P erfeelion. ( 1.) The Tempter is furptizingly fubtle, and underfiands all the arts of circumvent· ing and corrupting us. He knows the feveral Charaacrs of Mens Difpofitions, the commixture of their Humours, al! the rad ical Caufes of their different lndinaticus, and of tho{C tufts that have dominion 10 them. He knows the various impre!Iions of Nature from the St!x:, the Age, the Country; from inherent or t:xternal Caufes, from Hcald; or Sicknefs, Nobility, Obfcurity, Riches, Poverty, Profp·crity, Adverfiry : He t~mpts to Sen1uality in Youth, and Coveroufi1efs in Old Age; li ke the poffef>'d pcrfon m the Gofpel, that was fomctimcs cafi into the Fire, and !Ome times into the Water. Men often exchange th~ir Lulls, and deceive thernfe!ves; as if a dca<l Pal fie were the Cmc of a burning Fever. Sometimes he will try to cool the Zeal of the SJ.incs, who arc fCrious in working Out their Salvation, by fuggefiing that Liu.:ir diligence is nor necef: fary : _ _But_ if he cannot_ recall them to their form~r ftcuriL_y, by :1_1e al!uremems of Senf~, he W11l thfcourage the1r Hopes, and rcprefenr God as Jrreconcrleable, and damp the1r Refolurions in feel<ing his Favour, ancj doing their Duty. Thus by Orategam and am. bufhJ or by ope n affaulc, he attempts to ruine tbeir Souls. ( 2 ). His Hrength is fuperior to ours. Evil Spirirs arc llil'd, Principttlitits 4nd Powas, and fpiriltla! WickedntfJe5. \V c are frail Fle{h and Blood: But we arc encouraged, tha t by our vigrlancy, and the affiilance of the Holy fpirir, \ ·VC GJall_ be preferved againlt John 1. 4 . Ills urmofl Power and Cruelty: For-greater U he tiJ1lt is in tJg Satms , than be rhat is in the l11orld. ( 3· ) His Malice is deadly : Nothing can allay his Torment, but the involving Men under his Judgment and Mrfery. ( 4·) His AClivity and Diligence is equal to his Malice. The Spirits of Darlnr{1 never llumber or fleep: They are not capable of weakoefS or weanncfS, as our faun ... Nubonamnr: Flefh is. He is relllefs in ~ollow i~g his pernicious deligns: W'h_at js recorded o~ friar· ~ malam(.rrt ce//11..•, the ~om~n General, IS applicable to SataoJ If heobtarns a TltBor~, he fe rcelymfults " fortu~~~_mpot•fl ; and pr1r{tJts tt; if he be npt~l.l'd, he returm afrejb. His Spight is never (pe r t; He tempted ft_u"u·cf;• 1 fm- our Sav iour with dillru/1 of God's Providence, with PrdUmprion and Vain-glory; and ;;:t:;;::~~~~- being foil'd in all attempts, 'cis faid, he departc~ for .s feafon,. and afterwards ma~e ufe ~~~:;;;;;::!;~- ~e~~t er as his lnflrument, to make him decline his Suffenngs for the Salvauon of ( ~·) He has a mighty number of Princr"palities and Pof1?tr5, ttnd{piritual Wickedneffes, under his Commands : There was a legion in one Man. St. Peur earnefl.ly excites us ro watchfulnefs ; /or our tt.dverfary the Devil, rvitiJ innumerAble infunal Spirits, gDu about fuking rvhom he ma7 devour. He is the moll: formidable and leaft fear'd Enemy in the \Vorld: we are furrounded with invifible Enemies, fooner felt than feen, and ufually not difccrned but by the Wounds they give us; and ye t the Senfes of Men are unguarded, and all the Gates are open, to give them an ealic entrance into their Soul~. And rho' their operations in dellroying Souls are ft:cret , yet the deadly effeas of thm Hatred are vifible; for how f<w are there in whom the figns of the Spiritual Life appear? ,, The World is the llore.houfe of his Temptations; the Men of the World to a[. lure us to Sin, or terrifie us from our Duty. The th ings of the World are fu itable to cur vicious Appetites, and foment them; like Food tha t is pleafant, but unwholefome, and feeds the Difeafe. He puts a glofs and fla ttering colours upon earrqly things , to give them a lufl:re in our Imaginations. 5· In our depraved flare, we are very receptive of his Temptat ions. The Innoce~ce of the firO Adam did not fecure him from feduClion. The Carnal Affe.aions are hire Gunpowder, a fpark fets all a· fire; and we cannot eafily quench the unruly Flame when 'tis infpir'd by the Tempter. 'Tis true, he cannot immediuely atl: upon the Soul: But as in Paradife, he made ufe of the Serpent to deceive the Woman, and of the Woman, by her blandifhments, to allure Adam; fo he makes ufe of the carnal part in every one, which proves as fatal as the Serpent, and tbc Woman were. All r.he ~~f~~f·~ ~~~(~~~e~~ ~·~~lddi~~r~~~~ A~~a~~~~~~/:~l~i~nvai~~oe; :ai~Y ~~~h1~a~s ~;:r ~'~~~ admit !:is Temptations. When the Heart is dejeCted and forrowful, he fends rn Ter· rors and Gricfs, knowing char his Fatl:ion within are ready to receive thtm. \~ryen ' tis cheerful and lively , he fCnds in vain Thoughts, excites the Carnal AlfeCbons, which arc ready to comply with his defign, and betray the Soul to Folly and Sccu· rity. Now conlidering o~r Enemies _without, _and the deceitful H~a:·t as. the rraytor within, that keeps corrcfponder:ce wuh rhe 1 empre r, _ou r danger 1 ~ mlimte. We are not by privileoc exempted from Temptat_ions , nor mvulnerable 10 our encounters wid1 the Pow~rs of D.ukncfs ; bur by vigdancc1 and managing tLe / . rrnour of G~\?d
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=