Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the two forti a f reeapoirt roherrorrh the world a fae ltetb vi. a7 ding in a cunning and deceitfull parley, or by encountring The manner vs with all his forces : in the one playing the dangerous ttai- biro the orld tor,in the other an open enemic. In the former like a fubtile f 'te`h with Ra6ßi4i,eh, in his mailer Satans name, hee offcreth unto vs In 18.3r. peace,and maketh many faire promifes of great plentie and Via. fecuritievnder his prote &ion, if wee will be content to ray aft de our armes, and fubiee} our felues as flaues and vaffals unto his goucrnment. And left thefe allurements might not preuaile, he tnixeth threatnings, and boafteth of his great flrength,whereby bee is able to ouercome by force,if fairer manes will nor perfwade a yeelding; blafphemoufly difa- bli ng the power of our mightie God, the Lord of hofis,as though he were notable fo wel to prouidc for vs,or to fhield and defend vs againft his furie. But if his bewitching elo- quence will not moue vs,then bee marcheth againui vs with all his forces,and imployeth all his flrength and policie to worke our ouerthrow ; fometimes hiding the troupes of his temptations in the ambufhments of worldly vanities, that is,citherbehind the high hits of ambitious honours,or in the low delightfull medowes of voluptuous pleafures, or elfe in thepricking thickets ofthornie riches,that fo he may affault vs in our greateft fecuritie, and obtaine an eafie vi- lorie ; and fometimes hee draweth out his forces in open view,and marchethagainft vs with a terrible armie of affli- ¿lions and perfecutions, prefuming to ouercome vs through force and violence. And this is the manner of the worlds fight,wherein as you fee hee leaueth no meanes vnaffaied to worke his owne will, and our ouerthrow : for being re- folued to catch and make a pray of vs, like a cunning fifher nsan,he either allures vs to fwallow the hook es of fin with the baits of worldly vanities;or if he cannot fo preuaile,he affaieth to driue vs by force into his nets of perdition, bea- ting vs forward with the flaues of trouble and affiaion; or like a dangerous theefe intending to fpoile vs ofthe rich treafures of Gods graces,either he cheateth and deceiueth vs, by perfwading vs to exchange with him thefe precious jewels, for fome counterfeite trifles and bate worldly vani- ties; or if his cofening cunning preuaile not, like a flrong theefe