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V
E
R.
io.
Ephe/tans,Chap.6.
and then
!tabbed
her
deadly.
So
David
was
wont to
pray
thricea day,
and take times
for
fuch
devotions
:
but thedevill (as it
is
probable
in
a Sam.I
I.
a.)
had caufed him
to
come from his trench, and
then
did
prefently wound him.
The
fourth ftratagem
is, Spreading
of
falfe
terrors.
lad.
7.
Gedeon
with
a
frightful'
fhow did fo aftonifh
the enemie,
that they
turned one
againftthe
other
:
thus
the
devil!
doth
often marfhall many
caufeleffe
terrors,
as
he makes
others prefume when they
fhould
tremble.Hence
it
comma!), that
he maketh
Gods
deare
Chriftian children,
be fome-
time
troubled with feare, whether they
are
in
the
favour
of
God,
whether they
everhad true grace,
whether
they have
not
finned a-
gainft
the holy Ghoft. So
in
particular
anions
if
one will make
a
con
-
fcience
of
unlawful! gaine, he will feare
them with poverty, they
!hall
not be able
to
live
:
fo,
if
they
be
liberali, he will caft
in
this
feare,
They
may want themfelves: fo,
if
they defend an innocent helpelefle
perfon,
he will
bid them looke
what they doe, they may draw
an
old
houfe
on
their heads
:
and he
doth
fill
the
eyes
of
the
fpirit
with
fuch
difguifed bug-
beares.
The
fift
ftratagem
is,
to
fend
in
fome fmall forces,
or fuborn
fome
treacherous inftruments
which
may
betray
all
:
thus
the devill will
often fatten
fmall finnes on us,
to
bring
us
on to greater; fuborne falfe
brethren.
Now
what
is
the
ufe
of
all
this, but
to
(titre
us up
to looke about
us!
feeing
we have
fo fecret and
fo fubtill an adverfary inftrudted
with
a
thoufand arts
to
circumvent us, what neede have we
to
be
in-
nocent
as
Doves, but
wife
as
Serpents
e
Now, if
you will
aske,
How
we
may
be
kept
fafe
Learne
to
feare and
fufpedt
the evil'
one
:
this
is
the Sentinel'
of
the
foule,
which
maketh difcovery
of
the adverfary.
Be
watchful', &c.
Credulity
is
full
of
peril!,
but
wife fufpition fecureth from
danger.
Secondly,
let
us
keepe
within our houlds;
keepe
the threatning
within
thy
heart,
and the
dayly
courfe
of
Chriftian duty,
and
they
thall
not
be able
to hurt
:
but
above all things, hold
Chrift
and his
wifedome
by
faith
:
for (Pro. 8.
ra.)
he
dwelleth with prudence, he
findeth out counfels,
the
Spirit
of
wifedome
is
in
him.
If
we had
to
draiewith
fome crafty Broaker,
we would joyne the
wifeft head wee
could meete with againft him
:
but get
Chrift the
wifedome
of the
Father,
and no wifedome
fhall
be able
to
hurt thee.
Fourthly, pray with David. i/lcbitophels ftratagems,
in
the time
of
peace, were like the O
raclesof God;
but what
faid
David, Lord
confound
the
wifedome
of,"
chitophel.
a. This
should
teach usthankefulneffe
to God, who
in his
Word
doth
make difcoverie
of
fuch
like
ftratagems. If one difcover to us
any wily device
of
an
enemy,
we are
glad, nothing
doth come to
us
more
welcome:
fo
nothing
fhould
more rejoyce
us,
who
are in
our
warfare, then
to
know what plots our
enemies have
contrived againft
us,Fare.warned,ferearmed.
The
721
3.
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tv1aj.
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A.
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