On LuKE XIV. i3l The Scripture reprefents him as a !hang and fubtile Adverfary : a roaring Lio11 that goes about feeking :vhom he may_devour, a~d the ~id Serpent.. His Enmity is umvcrGI, his Diligence is equal to Ius Malice, a~d Ius Mahce whets Ius Inventton to lay ftJCh Trams as may be de!huctive to them. H1s Strength does clueAy he m h1s Subnlty. If Men could fee him in his Native Shape of Darknefs, an mfernal FlCnd, the moll: curled Creature or what he is relatively to them, a Liar and a Murderer from the beginning, Iww wo~Id they flee with Horror from his Temptations? but he does not awake Sinners, and then wound them; he is notfeen till felt, nor difcover'd till he has fafl:en'd his Stings in their Souls. He fpreads Ius Snares m the Dark; and when their Spiritu· al Senfes arc Iock'd in a Midnight Sleep, he defl:roys them. Secondly ; His Methods and Wiles for this end ore various. r. Heblinds the Minds of Men, and hardens them in Unbelie£ This was h!s firfl: and fuccefsful Temptation, and is the Pattern that he frill follows. He told the Wo. manjbejhou!dnot die; and the Refiraint of Fear being taken away, the Pleafure of Talk and Curiofity foon prevail'd with her to eat the forbidden Fruit. The Apofile gives this account of Mens rejecting the Truths of the Gofpel: If our Gofpel be bid, it is hid to them that are loft ' In w/;om the God of this World bath Minded the Minds of them wbo believe not, left the lit,ht of theglorious Gojpel ofChrift, 1vho is the Image of God, · jhou!d jhine unto them. His principal Defign is to encreafc the natural Infidelity in the Minds of Men, who are fo govern' cl by Senfe, that in Matters of Faith they require the Evidence of Senfe' for he knows the powerful Efficacy of the Divine Doctrine where 'tis believed. Faith enters into the Confcience, opens the Heart, commands and captivates the Will and Affections, and brings the moll: fl:ubborn Sinners from the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of,Chrifl:. He is in them, polfelfes all their Faculties, and by that advantage works effectuaiJy. He has the Monarchy of their Minds, and diverts their Thoughts from pondering the Argmnents that would turn their Judgments, and induce the Belief of the Gofpel: l1e excites thofc carnal Affections that blind the Mind : he inchants Men with enticing fenfUal Objects, that they neither can nor will believe what is contrary to their Lufis. Reafon, ConfCience,Faith, whereby Men are primarily and chiefly difiinguifl1'd from the Bruits, are facrificed to the Prince of Darknefs. Then they arc fecurely his own : for the moll: Precious Pro. mifes have no attractive Influence upon thofc in 'Whom there is reigning Infidelity: the !harpefl: Threatnings cannot pierce through the Armour of Obfl:inacy. 72. 1 '-· The moll: that refufe the Offer of Grace in the Gofpel, are not abfolute Infidels ; therefore the Tempter tries other ways to ruin them. He obferves the Difpofitions and Circumfl:ances of Men, and prefents fuch Temptations whereby they are moll: likely to be taken and held in his Snares. Altho Human Nature be whoiJy depraved, yet all Men are not cafl into the fame Mould : they are difiinguifl1'd by their various Alpects, Confiitutions, Defires, and Condij:ions of Life, and are no~ wrought on by the Gme Motives. The Tempter by his natural Sagacity and Expenence (he is fliled the old Serpent) has exact Knowledge in the Art of difcerning Men. Sometimes fudden Paffions are painted in the Countenance, and he takes particular Advantage to fl:rike in with them. But his univerfal Method is to prefent the fittefl: Baits to the natural Inclinations, and habitual Difpofitions of Men: he knows the Faction within will readily open to his Call. The So.oguine are foft and dilfolute, and are eafily drawn to exorbitant Pleafures: The MelandJO!y are indin'd to Difcontent,_ Sorrow, Impatience, Defpm : Thofe who have act1ve refl:lefs Spmts, are taken wlth the Advanta<>es of the World. The muddy Mind is eafily fiirr'd by the Offer of Gain: the volupt~ous Mind -is flrongly allur'd by fenli1al Delights: the afpiring Mind is incens'd by the profpect of Honour. Now tho the Tempter be a Spirit, and not capable of thole Sins which are acted bythe fenf1ble Faculties, yet hot only fpiritual Sins, Pride, Envy, Malignity and the like, but Flelhly Lufls, even the foullefl: Actions are from his Incitations. H~ was not only a proud Spirit, but an unclean Spirit in Davit!. He was a covetous Spirit in ~ Chron. :~~;~;~,:~ ;rJz~~i:i~~~~~~~~~~ft~na~:r~e~:~~s0tli~u~i:l~';:a:~~"~~dt~~~~~a:u;~~fs to embrace lt. He bnngs the Fewel, enncmg Objects, and mfp~res the Flame, ardent Defltes to them. If burmng Lufls begm to cool, and ragmg Corruptions are controul'd byrhc threatning of the Word, and the Terrors of Confcience, he will blow them up again. Now any reig,ning Lufl is a Viceroy of Sltan's? and keeps Poffeffion for !urn, and confequently excludes the Son of God from Adm1ffion into the Heart. Aaaaa ~ 3· He
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