Rea(onswhy Chrift didnot pre- Sunday inLent. Ser.i8. i `2. fently eatì out this Dcui1L them thence like thunderbolts. Thefe Deuill», beeing thus :,un)bled;downe r¡ headlong from that fohighaTower , they fought out another fltonger hold whereinto defendthem(elues,whichwas Man ; and making themleluesmafteis. of this Fort,theymade fall theWindowes,and the Doores , (hurting clofe the Eyes, Eares,and Mouth ofMan. God himfelfe in our perfon, laboured to put them our.But Man,abufingthat libertie which God hath leftvnto him,& refig- ning it vp into theDeuills hands , is the onelycaufe that theymaintaine and de- fend this Fort againft God . Gregorie 2(azianzen fltth, That wee play the Traytors,and confpire again(} God,againfthis Croffe,and againfthis Blond, by felling our felues dayly anew veto the Deuill. OurSauiour Chrift hadpayd the ranfome forall our flames vpon the Croffe, tearing that our handwriting&obli- gation inpieces,whichwe hadmade ouer to the Deuil.ßut we,as ifwe repented our felues thereof,makehim anewbond, and bind our felues anew vnto him; Which is agreat bafeneffe inMan. Wilt thoureceiuean Apoflara,aTraitour,a Fugitiue,andone that is condemned for euer to the Gallies e There is no Iona halfe fovile,or fo badasthy Soule. For,ifthis harbouratheefe, or amurderer, or a robber on the highway-fide, it is vponhope ofprofit : But thoudocd'c not onely giuehim entertainment, bur alfo fpendeflthy purfe vpon him,and dooft proteél and abett himagain(} God. So that Godhathagreat deals more to doe with poore filly Man, beingbut as a worme ofthe earth, than with the greateft Deuill inHell. There is alto another reafon onour part;Towit,The.fo often repeatingofour fins ouerand ouer,their antient}landing, and theirfpreading (likea Cancker)ftill farther & farther vpon our foules;Infomuch,that it will find Godworke,&can- not chufebutcoft him much labor. And the fores ofourfins may be in that del- perat cafe,that heis not ableto curethemby ordinary means,but muftvfe therin forre great and (}range Miracle.. Thouputteft foorth toSea, thou fayleft in the fame (hipwith another paffenger, thy friend and acquaintance, ye Cabbin toge- gether,eat together, and fleepe together, continuing in phis louing leagueof friendfhip, forne fixmoneths ormore. Thou boordeftthy felfewith thy neigh- bour, liueft under the fame roofewith himfome thirtyyeares andvpwards,and all this while ye continue veriegood freinds. Sure it muft be averygreat occa- fron that mull part yeetwaine, andeither coole, or blot out this your fo long grounded affeâion. But, ifbefides this tye offriendfhip, thou take extraordi- narycontentment in it, there is no gaine-faying of it. Such aone, thouartwont tofay ; The is my Life, my Soule,my deereHeart, deerer vntomee than mine owne eyes. Though thouhaft lined thus andthusmany yeares, and fo much to thycontent anddelight in conuerfation and friendfhip with the Deuil,& though Imull confeffe, itis ahard matter to come offhandfomelyfromhim, yet God hathwroughtthy freedom, but atagreat price,and hathbrought theeoffcleere butwithmachpaine. But let me tellthee withall, that when thy demoniated foule,fhall place all it's whole pleafureanddelight in the Deuils company,make himher bell beloved, & hug him inher armes,and fpredout the lappet ofher garment for him;thenThal it be inmy Letanie,Lordhauemercie vponthee.For when frnnegrowes to that height,it is almoft outof reach,todoe anygood vp- onir. PopeClement faith of Simon (Magus, that hecould not be cured, &via vo- luntarie agrotebat, Becaa fe hema willing tobe ficke. And that his foulehad made fuch an infeperable knot with the Deuill, "Leequien leapartara, lematara, Thathe thatghouldpull himfromhim, muffpullaway life andfouletogether. Saint c.Marketels vs, That his Difciples being not ableto difpoffeffe ayoungman of the Deuill, they
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