1 Chap.34 about comfortingafiUedconfciences. to pray. Thy willbe done, &c. Forwhichendwemull learn to fubmir patiently toall leffer afüikions. Qucn. How fhall we b: enabled to bear with comfort fatanical moleflation.r either when we are poleffedby theDive!, or fear to be fo, or have our hamlet mole3ledby the Dive!? Anfwet Firn , Herein confider , that pofl'efíion is knowne by two fignes. r. When the Divel is evidently prefent, either in the whole body, or in fome part of ir. 2. When he hath rule in the faidbody, either in whole or in part, fo that the partie himfelfhathnot that ufe of his body which he would. So was is with them which werepoffeflcd in Chrifls time. Secondly , it falls our oft thatnrangedifeafes fall upon men arifing from coF- rupt humours in the body : and force have Iiranae paffions from natural caufes un- known, which altoproduce extraordinary effeifs, and yet they are neither be- witched, nor pofffled. Now to flay the mind in fuch cafes , thefe rules are to be obferved. T. Remember that though Satans malice, and power be very great, yet he cannot exercice it upon Gods children, when where, and how he pleafeth , for Godhath limited hispower, and fees his bounds that he cannot pats. The reafons whereof are 1. Becaufe he is a creature, and therefore finite ; and canneither knownor do any thing beyond the reach, or capacity of his nature, or above the power and skillofa creature, i Cor. 2.1T. Neithercan he work amiracle, which is peculiar only unto God, Pfa1.77.14. z. Becaufe he is fubjea to the will of God : He could not go out to deceive Ahobs Prophers,till God gave him leave,' King.zz.zz. SoJob r. a z. Hence we may have comfort in that Godwill not give him leave to do any thing againfl his children ro theirdeflru5tion : but fo far as (hall make for their falvation. 2. Suchperlons muff have recourfe toGod byprayer, and to his word wherein he promifeth his prefence andproteEtion to his children in their greaten dangers, pfal. 91. io,ir."Zach. z. 5. Ifa. 66.12.Tjumb.z3.22. Yet this freedorn,being but a temporal biefl'ing,God is not fo tyedby his promife , but that it may fome- times come to pats that they (hall be fomolelled : yet this isour comfort, that ifit be fo, yet it fhalI turn to our good. 3. Remember that the heft fervants ofGod have been _.olened by the Devil: yea,Chrin himfelf, Matth.4. 5. So Jobs children were (lainby him xl fo Mat. 1$.21,22. Luke 13.16. . 4. We mull in fuch cafes leek unto Godby prayer for deliverance if it Eland with his goodwill and pleafure, or elfe for patience , that we may quietly beare that particular afflielion. Quelt. what muft we doe in cafe our hoofs are'molefted with evil! fpirus ? Ánfw. Firi,we mull not abide therewhere it is certainly known that Goá hash giventhe Divel power, leali wetempt the Lord, Chrifididnot of his own pervate motiongoe into the wildernefs : but by the dire6tion of the holy Ghoft, Ma,.h. . 4.1. Pau/went not ofhisown head to Jerufalem, but upon the motion of the Spirit,AfZs 20.22. whence it follows that we may not call our felves intoplaces of apparent danger, much lefsinto thofe places whichGodbath given up into the power of Satan. Secondly, That which we areto do in the ufe of meats, and drinks, muff be cjone in the houles and places where we dwell : we mull fandifie them toour ufe by the Word andPrayer. Quefi. Zz 353 I. I. II.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=